The Epstein Brothers Orchestra

The Epstein Brothers were the top Klezmer band from the 1930s to the 1970s when the three brothers-Max (B-flat clarinet), Willie (trumpet) and Julius (drums, percussion) -- retired to Tamarac, Florida. Since reuniting in the mid-1990s, the brothers have picked up where they had left off. Their comeback album, "Zeydes Un Eyni Klekh: Jewish-American Wedding Music from The Repertoire Of Dave Tarras" recorded with Joel Rubin, was released in 1995. Although in their 80s, the Epsteins continue to record and perform the traditional and original Klezmer music that originated with the Jews of eastern Europe. The Epstein Brothers were born on New York City's Lower East SideMax in 1912, Willie in 1919 and Julius "Jules" in 1926. By the mid-1930s, the brothers were inspiring dancers with their klezmer-tinged blend of tangos, horas, Russian folk dances and Gypsy drinking songs. In addition to performing with his brothers, Max was an early member of the Warner Brothers studio band and performed on numerous soundtracks. As musical director of the Forest Hills Festival in Queens, New York, Julius accompanied such top-ranked artists as Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross and the late Judy Garland. A black and white video of the Epstein Brothers' European tour in 1995 was filmed by German director Stefan Schwieter, "Tickle In The Heart", and premiered at the San Francisco Film Festival on July 21, 1996. In 1997, The Epstein Brothers released, "Volume III-IV", a double cd retrospective of their lengthy career.