The Browns were a sibling vocal trio comprised of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie. Their ascent from small-town Arkansas to the top of not only the country charts but the pop charts of the late '50s and early '60s is one of the unlikeliest stories in country history. Tracing their mid-'50s origins all the way to their waning days of the late '60s, Collectors' Choice Music has assembled The Browns: The Complete Hits, a 21-song compilation featuring their work on both the small, regional Fabor label and later RCA Records. Annotated by music historian Colin Escott, the reissue is set for a street date of May 27, 2008.

Jim Ed Brown was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., home of blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson and CeDell Davis. His father owned a lumber business and it was a foregone conclusion that Brown would take over the enterprise. However, he heard a stronger calling on the Grand Ole Opry, careening onto the Brown family porch from Nashville's WSM-AM. Singing first at weenie roasts and later at regional Opry-like revues throughout the South, the Browns — at this point a duo of Jim Ed and Maxine — eventually recorded a demo that intrigued Fabor Robison's Fabor label, also the home of future stars Jim Reeves, Bonnie Guitar and Johnny Horton. In 1954, Robison set up a radio station appearance in Shreveport, La. for the Browns' first recorded session. Maxine wrote their first hit, "Looking Back To See," inspired by their younger sister Norma's tale of sneaking glances back to see a boy who was glancing at her. The song was followed closely by another hit, "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow." By 1955, sister Bonnie had joined them. Two years of hard work and charted hits had resulted in no money, so they followed Jim Reeves to the greener pastures of RCA.

The Browns' first RCA hit was a cover of the Louvin Brothers' composition, "I Take The Chance," in 1956. Jim Ed reported to the Army the day after it was recorded, but continued to perform and record with his sisters when he could. In 1957, "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing" became their biggest hit to that point. Still, as Jim Ed said later, "The music business was just a hobby." The Browns' father's health was declining and they considered returning to the family lumber business.

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