That Brant County Sound! : The Bridgeman Family (The Fearless Five)

In November of 1975 the Bridgeman Family were singing at a mall in Guelph, when fifty-six year old Lloyd S. Otterbein approached them and asked them if they wanted to record two Christmas songs he had written specifically for the group. They had been singing in and about the area since 1970. Their mother Joan was alone with the children because her husband Mike had to work. She liked the idea of recording, and got Lloyd’s number so she could ask Mike first. Lloyd said he knew of a studio in Elmira where they could record; it was owned and operated by the Mercey Brothers.

Joan was very familiar with music, having a cousin in Burford named Ray Allgood who had songs recorded by Ray Griff, and also knew of Terry Sumsion as well. Mike was okay with the kids recording the single, especially when Lloyd covered all the bills; the session with the Mercey Brothers, and the pressing of the 500 singles. Lloyd, Ray and Larry Mercey were all impressed with how quick the kids caught on. Studio musicians played on the two tracks and achieved an excellent sound, Lloyd Otterbein was quite impressed. Both songs were published by the Mercey Brothers Publishing Company.(They were the 15th act signed to Thunderbird Recordings)

The kids weren't stage shy at all, and had opened for or played with The Good Brothers, the New Christie Minstrels, Wilf Carter and Lacosta Tucker. They played at the 1976 Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA. President Ford was in attendance. On the way back home the kids sang wherever they could, restaurants and public parks, accepting money tossed into their open guitar case. Joan and her sister made all of the custom costumes for the children. Each of the five kids could play the guitar.

The children appeared on Big Al's Talent Showcase in February of 1972.

The kids were always busy, and played many shows in the Simcoe and Port Dover area, as well as the Cambridge Fair. Joan was on the Fair Board, which helped. Both Mike and Joan had fulltime jobs, she worked for Nutrimetics Cosmetics based out of Calgary, AB for 40 years, until they folded in 2005. Mike was a driver for Boehmers Block of Cambridge.

Mike and Joan were pleased that they had the single to sell at the children's concerts, but weren't interested in following it up. Jim Allison did book them from November of 1975 to the early summer of 1976.

On July 24th 1976 fifteen year old Troy Bridgeman quit the band to go solo in a rock band. This ended six years of hard work by both the parents and the kids, and their association with Thunderbird Recordings.

In December of 2018, Mouton Music Canada has issued both sides of the Bridgeman Family single as two separate download singles to celebrate the release of the Thunderbird Recording compilations, The A-Sides and the B-Sides. Just in time for Christmas!

The Bridgeman Family - Twinkle Toes (Dec 11th 2018)

This special single release celebrates the new collection of all 30 of the Thunderbird A-Sides from the original vinyl singles. This collection puts them all in one place for the very first time.

The Bridgeman Family - Old Saint Nicholas Came To Town (Dec 11th 2018)

This special single release celebrates the new collection of all 30 of the Thunderbird B-Sides from the original vinyl singles. This collection puts them all in one place for the very first time.