Ellen Bukstel
First instrument played: Piano.
First instrument owned: Ukulele. I was young and small, and ukuleles are small.
First song you learned to play: Folk songs like "500 Miles" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
First album you bought: Back then it was 45s: "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore or "Society's Child" by Janis Ian.
Records, if any, you hid from your parents: I didn't have that problem with them. Okay, I used to go across the street to hear Frank Zappa.
Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.
Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? Neither. I never liked either one of them. I was a little old for them -- or young!
Earliest musical memory? Opera records my mother played to put me to sleep. And recordings of Broadway musicals. I don't go to the opera today but I love musical theater.
First public performance: My mother used to force me to play the piano for her friends.
Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: Barbra Streisand.
Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) that you wish you had: Guitar playing.
Favorite way to musically torture your sibling: Singing Hebrew songs. I can't pay him enough money to sing them with me.
Favorite song on the new album: Hmm, that's going to be really egotistical if I pick mine. "Only A Sleep Away" [written by Gary Bukstel].
Gary Bukstel
First instrument played: Ukulele.
First instrument owned: Ukulele.
First song you learned to play: A song about Florida. "I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow." That kind of song.
First album you bought: Led Zeppelin 4 or Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens.
Records, if any, you hid from your parents: There wasn't any.
Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.
Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? The Partridge Family.
Earliest musical memory? My brother and sister singing harmony to "Woodstock," I think.
First public performance: In first grade.
Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: James Taylor.
Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) you wish you had: Her grand piano! Actually I'm satisfied with what God gave me.
Favorite way to musically torture your sibling: Tell her that I don't want her to play guitar.
Favorite song on the new album: I love my music but I can't really say that. "Born to Sing" [written by Amy Carol Webb].
Amy Carol Webb
First instrument played: Guitar.
First instrument owned: Guitar.
First song you learned to play: "Red River Valley."
First album you bought: The Sound of Music soundtrack.
Records, if any, you hid from your parents: Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I hide those today!
Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.
Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? Oh no! I'd go back to The Sound of Music. That was a singing family.
Earliest musical memory? My parents singing at people's parties. I sat under the piano, up against the sounding board.
First public performance: My kindergarten Christmas pageant.
Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: Judy Garland.
Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) you wish you had: Improvisation.
Favorite way to musically torture your sibling(s): When I was trying to learn the clarinet. Didn't happen.
Favorite song on the new album: It's a real toss. "Music Won't Leave Me Alone" [written by Webb and Randall Reeves]. That song was put away since 1985. They [Ellen and Gary] brought a life to it.