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The 32 Most Legendary Sibling Singing Collaborations

The 32 Most Legendary Sibling Singing Collaborations

Published: January 31, 2024 by John Harrington

Regardless of the music genre, sibling singing acts — be they duets, bands, or groups — have been a music industry staple since performers have toured and recorded their music. As a musical act, many of these performers have been among the longest-lasting in the industry.

To find the most legendary sibling singing collaborations, 24/7 Tempo derived information from various music sources such as Internet Movie Database (IMDb), the online site udiscovermusic, paste magazine, and Djrobblog.com. The list is not meant to be comprehensive — there are literally hundreds of sibling singing acts — but has attempted to spotlight those sibling performers who have made the biggest impact in music.

Successful sibling musical acts have run the genre gamut, from Big Band, to country, to soul, to rock, easy listening, and punk. Their innovative interpretation of songs through their skill as musicians or their harmonious or complementary singing style has placed them among the most important acts in music history.

Women acts, in particular black women acts, figure prominently on our list, among them Sister Sledge (Joni, Kathy, Debbie, Kim Sledge), Pointer Sisters (Ruth, Anita, Bonnie, June Pointer), Staples Singers (Mavis, Cleotha, Yvonne Staples), and Braxton Sisters (Toni, Traci, Trina, Towanda, Tamar Braxton).

Two of the earlier women’s acts on our list, the Andrews Sisters and the McGuire Sisters, found success in the 1940s and 1950s. The Andrews Sisters were the most successful female act of the first half of the 20th century. The McGuires had two No. 1 hits, “Sincerely” and “Sugartime.”

Five brothers composed two iconic African American groups on our list: the Jackson 5 (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael) and the indefatigable Isley Brothers (Ronald, Rudy, Kelly, Vernon, Ernie, Marvin).

Speaking of large groups, siblings have been part of bigger acts such as the Beach Boys (Brian, Dennis, Carl Wilson), Allman Brothers (Greg and Duane), Devo (Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob and Gerald Casale), the Bangles (Vicki and Debi Peterson), and Van Halen (Eddie and Alex).

Included on our list of sibling collaborations are the British acts the Kinks (Ray and Dave Davies), Oasis (Liam and Noel Gallagher), and Dire Straits (Mark and David Knopfler) among others.

Because they are siblings they are prone to disagreements, and some of the acts on our list have been involved in famous ones, including The Beach Boys, the Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Oasis.

Brian, Dennis, Carl Wilson

The Beach Boys had four No. 1 hits with songs that celebrated the carefree life in California.

Their act: Helped create surfing-theme music in the 1960s
Active: 1961-present

Tom and Dick Smothers

Tom and Dick Smotrhers hosted a variety TV show in the late 1960s that addressed controversial topics and was taken off the air.

Their act: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, concerts
Active: 1959-2023

Karen and Richard Carpenter

The soft-rock duo had three No. 1 singles in the 1970s.

Their act: Pop singing duo with string of hits in the 1970s
Active: 1965-1983

Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael Jackson

The Jackson 5’s Christmas album returned to top 10 this past holiday season for first time since 1984.

Their act: Pop singing group Jackson 5; launched the career of Michael Jackson
Active: 1964-1989; 2001; 2012-present

Don and Phil Everly

The Everly Brothers landed 12 top-10 hits, including the No. 1 “Cathy’s Clown” in 1960.

Their act: Harmonious brothers act were pioneers of country rock
Active: 1951-1973; 1983-2005

Barry, Robin, Andy, Maurice Gibb

Australian group the Bee Gees posted nine No. 1 hits in the 1970s in the disco and rock genres.

Their act: The Bee Gees performeed pop, disco, soft rock
Active: 1958-2012

Tom and John Fogerty

Creedence Clearwater Revival had five songs reach No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Their act: Members of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Active: 1968-1972

Dave and Ray Davies

The English rockers rode the British Invasion wave to America in 1964.

Their act: Members of British rock group the Kinks
Active: 1963-1996

Emily and Martie Erwin

The Dixie Chicks stoked controversy by criticizing President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.

Their act: The Erwins collaborated with Natalie Maines to form the Dixie Chicks
Active: 1989-present

Liam and Noel Gallagher

Led by Liam and Noel Gallagher, Oasis were a hard-living band from Manchester, England.

Their act: Members of British rock group Oasis
Active: 1991-2009

Maxene, LaVerne, Patty Andrews

The Andrews Sisters were one of the biggest female singing acts in the 20th century.

Their act: The Andrews Sisters singing group
Active: 1925-1967

Kevin, Joe, Nick Jonas

New Jersey-bred boy band had three songs reach the top 10.

Their act: Teen singings sensations in the mid-2000s
Active: 2005-2013

Colin and Jonny Greenwood

Art-rock, Grammy-winning band from England, seven of its albums have sold more than 1 million copies.

Their act: The brothers helped found the English band Radiohead
Active: 1985-present

Don and Harold Reid

The Statler Brothers have had four chart-toppers on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list.

Their act: Gospel harmonies propelled them to fame as The Statler Brothers
Active: 1955-2002

Ann and Nancy Wilson

Rocking sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson scored No. 1 hits “Alone” and “These Dreams” in the 1980s.

Their act: The sisters are the heart of the band Heart
Active: 1973-1998; 2002-2016; 2019-2023

Joni, Kathy, Debbie, Kim Sledge

Sister Sledge song “We Are Family” was anthem for World Series-winning Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979.

Their act: The Sister Sledge had huge hit with “We Are Family’
Active: 1971-present

Eddie and Alex Van Halen

Metal band Van Halen was big in the 1980s with three top-10 songs, including chart-topper “Jump.”

Their act: The brothers formed iconic metal band Van Halen
Active: 1973-2020

Angus and Malcolm Young

Album-oriented radio favorite AC/DC is known for the song “Highway To Hell.”

Their act: The brothers formed the Australian hard rock band AC/DC
Active: 1973-present

Jonas, Jenny and Linn Berggren

Swedish group Ace of Base topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994 with the single “The Sign.”

Their act: They formed the Ace of Base band
Active: 1987-present

Mavis, Cleotha, Yvonne Staples

Chicago-based group best known for their 1970s hits “Respect Yourself”, “I’ll Take You There”, “If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me)”, and “Let’s Do It Again.”

Their act: The Staple Singers’ music was imbued with spirituality and social change
Active: 1948-1994; 1999

Duane and Gregg Allman

Quintessential Southern rock band Allman Brothers were known for songs such as “Whipping Post” and “Ramblin Man.”

Their act: Founders of Allman Brothers Band
Active: 1969-1976; 1978-1982; 1989-2014

Vicki and Debi Peterson

The Bangles hail from California and recorded the hits “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like An Egyptian.”

Their act: The Peterson sisters were part of The Bangles
Active: 1981-1989; 1998-present

Andrew, Jon, Tim Farriss

INXS, the third band from Australia on this list, had seven top-10 hits, including the No. 1 “Need You Tonight.”

Their act: They were called the Farriss Brothers before they became INXS
Active: 1977-2012

Mark and David Knopfler

Led by guitar master Mark Knopfler, smooth British rockers Dire Straits had three top-10 hits, including the chart-leading “Money For Nothing.”

Their act: The Knopflers founded the British group Dire Straits
Active: 1977-1988; 1990-1995

Louis and George Johnson

They worked with Billy Preston and Quincy Jones before forming The Brothers Johnson.

Their act: Purveyors of LA funk
Active: 1975-1982; 1984-2015

Ruth, Anita, Bonnie, June Pointer

The Pointer Sisters crossed music genres and had seven top-10 hits beginning in 1978.

Their act: Oakland-based R&B and soul act became known as The Pointer Sisters
Active: 1970-present

Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh; Bob and Gerald Casale

MTV favorite Devo, a new wave band from Ohio, received air play for its songs “Whip It” and their cover of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

Their act: Two pairs of brothers helped create the quirky band Devo
Active: 1973-1984; 1988-1991; 1996-present

Dianne “DeeDee” Barbara, Peggy, Kathy, Janet Lennon

The Lennon Sisters, four of 11 siblings, appeared often on “The Lawrence Welk Show.”

Their act: Sister quartet appeared as The Lennon Sisters
Active: 1955-present

Andrea, Sharon, Caroline, Jim Corr

Irish group’s successful canon includes the songs “Runaway,” “The Right Time” and “Breathless.”

Their act: Irish pop group The Corrs had success in early 21st century
Active: 1990-2006; 2015-present

Carnie and Wendy Wilson

Carnie and Wendy Wilson are the daughters of Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Chynna Phillips is daughter of Michelle and John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas fame.

Their act: Wilson Phillips are offspring of legendary rock parents
Active: 1989-1993; 2001; 2004-2006; 2010-present

Phyllis, Christine, Dorothy McGuire

After scoring No. 1 hits “Sincerely” and “Sugartime,” The McGuire Sisters act was scuttled in 1968 when sister Phyllis had a relationship with crime figure Sam Giancana.

Their act: Trio from Ohio were popular in the 1950s and 1960s
Active: 1952-1968; 1986-2004