Twinn Connexion • Turn Down Day

Identical twins Jay and Jerry Hopkins were born and raised in Helena, Montana, where they began their careers in entertainment, studying and appearing in musical theater. It was not long before the boys moved to New York City to pursue their dreams, and they were discovered by an music executive as they were performing together in Greenwich Village. Soon, Twinn Connexion was signed by Columbia Records, and then Decca. They also had a manager who believed in them, Bob Cessna. Their music was a frothy combination of Pop and Rock, and is now considered in the forefront of the 'Sunshine Pop' movement. In 1968, they released the eponymous album, and had some moderate success. This is the track "Turn Down Day", off the 1968 album, 'Twinn Connexion'. The song was originally written and released by The Cyrkle in 1966.

That recording was nominated for a Grammy Award. It was a time that Decca was going through some changes, and promotions were cut. Soon, Jay and Jerry found themselves out of the music business. Jerry went to art school, and Jay started his career as a stock broker. Jay passed away in 2001, after having a successful career on Wall Street. Jerry became a noted artist, living in Woodstock, New York, with longtime partner Bob Cessna. They were together for 44 years, when he passed away in 2008. Jerry decided to give some time to music once again, and put together a record of demos and unreleased material for the Twinn Connexion. That album is 'Songs From the Heart', and it is great fun. To learn more about Twinn Connexion, visit their official website. You can also connect with Jerry Hopkins on Facebook, as well as 'follow' him on Twitter. To purchase the music of Twinn Connexion, you can find them on Amazon.

I Think I Know Him • The Twinn Connexion

Left to right: Jerry Hopkins, Bob Cessna, and Jay Hopkins

In 1963, a handsome set of identical twins found their way from Helena, Montana, to New York City, ready to find themselves, as well as being found. Jay and Jerry Hopkins had been local stars, with their own television show on KXIH-V in Helena, a variety show featuring local talent, emceed by the stunning twins. They moved to New York, and rented an apartment on the Upper West Side for $16 a month, and had the support of a friend, Rex Reed. The twins had many odd jobs to pay the rent, including summer stock in the Adirondacks. That is where Jerry met Bob Cessna, who returned to New York in the fall of 1965 with Jerry. Soon, he was not only his partner, he was also managing the duo in a new venture, a Pop singing group. And so Twinn Connexion was born.


Jay & Jerry at the Twinn Connexion album release party, with their sister Patty to the right.

Soon, the brothers went from hosting drag shows in Greenwich Village to headlining at clubs like Upstairs at the Duplex and The Bitter End. They had a following, making feel-good music like their favorites, the Everly Brothers, Jimmy Dean and Patti Page. By 1968, they had their own album, Twinn Connexion. The release party was held at the Playboy Club. It is likely they played "I Think I Know Him" at the show.



I discovered the music through J.D. Doyle of the Queer Music Heritage. It has been my pleasure to get to know Jerry, through writing about the twins on this blog. There has been a recent resurgence in popularity of the music, now dubbed Sunshine Pop. I could not resist purchasing the CD, and one of my favorite songs is "Sixth Avenue Stroll." And it just seemed right for this Saturday morning.



At the time, the music world did not seem ready for gay twins, handsome or not. The boys decided to go in other directions while working on their second album. Jay stayed in the city, working on Wall Street, while Jerry, in a relationship with Bob, found work in the Schubert Organization. On September 6, 2001, Jay passed away in his apartment. In 2008, Jerry lost his partner. Going through their stuff, Jerry had renewed interest in the music, including some unreleased material. You can find Jerry on FaceBook . And, you can purchase their first album on Amazon.Com - I have! You can listen to the music on Last.FM , or you can check out Songs From The Heart, a collection of songs the boys were working on for a second album, here. I love their special take on "Matchmaker" from Fiddler On The Roof.

Happy Birthday, Jerry Hopkins

I know there are at least one or two of my gentle readers who might be asking, "Who is Jerry Hopkins, and why are you giving him a birthday shout out?" Well, my friends, Jerry is a recovering Pop Star, having been one-half of a recording duo in Twinn Connexion. Jerry, along with his identical twin brother Jay, moved from their hometown of Helena, Montana, to the New York City in 1963. The boys had stars in their eyes, having been theater majors at the University of Montana. Soon they were playing the clubs and bars in Greenwich Village, including the prestigious Bitter End. By 1968, they were signed and recording their first album. The music was light, bright, airy and breezy, as was much of the Pop music from the period. The opening track from the album was Sixth Avenue Stroll, which I find irresistible and charming.



The album sold well in the Midwest, but even with positive reviews, it was decided to not record a second album. Jay went to work on Wall Street, while Jerry went back to college, focusing on the fine arts. The music might have been forgotten, but in the new millennium, there was a resurgence in interest of what has become known as Sunshine Pop, and, more specifically, in the Twinn Connexion. Unfortunately, Jay passed in 2001 and was not able to know this. But Jerry, now an established painter and artist living in Woodstock, New York. Here is another cut from the album, I Think I Know Him.



I have to admit, I really wasn't aware of the Twinn Connexion until I read an exceptional interview by Marc Harshbarger of Deep Dish. Check it out here. There you can read a much more in depth feature of the gay twins from Montana making a lives fro themselves in the time of "Free Love." which, as we all know, was not free for all...



You can check out Jerry on FaceBook here, and wish him a happy birthday. And, you can purchase their first album on Amazon.Com here - I have! You can also check them out on Last.FM here, or you can check out Songs From The Heart, a collection of songs the boys were working on for a second album, here. If you are an observant reader, you might notice all the songs are available for download for FREE. Yet another chance I took full advantage of. I am crazy about the song, Letter From Mom and Dad. Now if I can get to Woodstock and convince Jerry to have lunch, and maybe an adult beverage or two or five... Happy Birthday, Jerry!