The Canote Twins, a film by Larry Edelman, is a feature length documentary about Greg and Jere Canote, identical twins who have been playing music together for most of their 70-plus years. And not just any old music, but simply amazing, genetically-matched singing and musicianship. They quickly bring to mind the rich tradition of singing brother duets, evoking such seminal duos as the Blue Sky Boys, the Delmore Brothers, and the Everly Brothers. And they take it up a notch, because they’re not merely brothers, but identical twins. And as musician and editor Paul Kotapish put it, “They’re really ‘twinny’ twins.” Their delightful repertoire spans Americana including rare fiddle tunes, quirky novelty songs, and swing classics, all uniquely interpreted through their positive world view. They’ve shared their music for more than half a century, teaching and performing at countless festivals and workshops, and on radio and television.

But delightful music is only part of the story. Greg and Jere have another unique characteristic – they are two of the happiest people you will ever meet. And their happiness is mysteriously contagious. Anyone finding themselves in close proximity to the twins, might also find themselves caught up in a vortex of joy and optimism.

This documentary spans their lifetime, right up to the present day. You’ll appreciate their musical inspirations and tap into some of the secrets of their happiness. Singlers will better understand the mystical closeness of identical twins. You’ll get to relive their cross-country touring with Sandy Bradley and their roles as the affable sidekicks on the weekly radio broadcast, “Sandy Bradley’s Potluck.” You’ll get to chuckle at the Spoonoplians, the pick-passing stunt, and other legendary antics. You’ll get a tour of Greg’s colorful collection of  American made plastic toys from the late 1940’s through the early 1950’s. You’ll see Jere working in his shop, building  banjos with his unique combination of traditional aesthetics and crazily creative designs. You’ll see Greg in his painting studio, shaping line and color for a special glimpse into his subconscious mind. And of course, you’ll see and hear LOTS of music!

And after it’s over, we hope you’ll feel a little more joyful, a bit happier. And can’t we all use a little bit more of that?

“You can’t help but be happy around them!”
–Sandy Bradley, Musician

“I can’t think of anybody else in the country who does the thing that they do. They’re unique and great. I just can’t think of anybody who would be able to fill their shoes if they weren’t around.”
–Mark Graham, Musician, Songwriter

“There’s some kind of energy that happens between them that is other-worldly. And they have this huge effect on other people. They’ve brought so much joy and warmth into the world. We need that.”
–Candy Goldman, Musician

Their music is so infectious, their personalities are so engaging, and their sheer joy in each other and in those around them, just brings people together. They’re magnetized to each other and it spreads out through the room.”
–Paul Kotapish, Musician, Writer, Editor

LARRY EDELMAN (Producer, Director, Videographer, and Editor) Larry honed his skills over 40 years of producing both short-form and feature-length documentaries. He has focused on a variety of topics, including early childhood education, disabilities, and traditional music and dance. During the 1980s, during a Fellowship in Folk Arts from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, he produced the highly praised documentary, Dance to the Music and Listen to the Calls, about traditional square dance caller Jerry Goodwin. Inspired by the music of the southwest, he produced the documentary, Eva Nuanez: Memories of My Musical Life. In 2019, Larry’s critically acclaimed feature-length documentary, Dance All Night – The Highwoods Stringband Story, was an official selection of several film festivals. Larry Edelman is the Executive Producer at Piggysnout Productions and feels very fortunate to have known Greg and Jere for more than 40 years.

CASEY EDELMAN (Associate Editor) Casey brings a wealth of creativity and sharp skills to the film. At AXS TV, she served as an Associate Producer on several television series, including Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar, TrunkFest, and Paul Shaffer Plus One. Casey also edited episodes of the series, A Year In Music. She has been an indispensable member of the Piggysnout Productions team since 2016, and currently works as a Producer at The Integer Group in Los Angeles. Casey has fond memories of Greg and Jere since she can remember.

RAY VOLKEMA (Consulting Editor) Ray has been a director and editor for over 43 years. And Ray has done it all, including directing for television in three states. His varied editing stints include pieces for the PBS MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and various sports and Olympics specials for NBC and CBS Sports. At AXS TV, Ray edited over 100 live concerts, was the editor for the Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar series and edited episodes of If These Walls Could Rock. Ray’s work has been featured in Emmy-nominated and Emmy-winning productions.

JOE HERRMANN (Story Consultant) A singer and multi-instrumentalist, Joe co-founded the celebrated Critton Hollow String Band with his wife, Sam in 1975. He has toured throughout the U.S. and internationally and recorded seven acclaimed albums. Joe brings his keen musical ear and soulful sense of story to the film. Joe was a key Editorial Advisor on Dance All Night – The Highwoods Stringband Story.

HILARY HART (Photographic Specialist) Hilary’s amazing digital imaging skills were earned over a long career in graphic design and imaging software development. Her technical contributions to the world of color imaging has touched everyone who has ever clicked “print.” She adores the Canote twins and for a few glorious years performed with them under the pseudonym, “Blanche Boquet.” Hilary was a Post-Production Assistant for Dance All Night – The Highwoods Stringband Story.

TOM COLLICOTT (Web and Graphic Specialist) In addition to being a graduate of the Canote Stringband Class oldtime music bootcamp, Tom has been a commercial photographer and more recently a web designer. Tom has photographed Jere and Greg, and worked on their CD package designs and websites from the first day the twins were reluctantly pulled into the 21st Century Internet world. Thanks to the mentorship of the Canotes, Tom plays guitar and banjo with The Atlas Stringband, RedDog and $4 Shoe.

JOHN GALLAGHER (Photographic Specialist) As a seasoned photographer, John’s 40-year career has given him a wide range of know-how; from inside a nuclear reactor to the Washington State Penitentiary, he’s photographed it all. His rich experiences include running a portrait studio, photographing commercial and industrial settings, working in-house with a Fortune 100 company, and tons of freelance work. John’s gorgeous photographs of Greg and Jere appear in the film and he also assists with complex photo editing.

JACOB RIVKIN (Animator) An artist focusing on the connection between art, science, and history, Jacob has shown work at the Animation Block Party and Factual Animation Film Festival. He teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University.

MARK HERLINGER (Videographer) Mark is an independent video producer specializing in training, informational, marketing, and documentary productions. He worked for a public television station as a public and cultural affairs producer, during which time he won two Regional Emmy awards. Mark holds a BA in radio-TV-film from the University of Michigan and an MA in journalism from the University of Colorado, where he also serves as a part time instructor.

ADVISORS

RICHARD REINER As an actor, Richard has a rich history of working in theatre as well as playing feature roles in television and film. Later, he became a talent agent representing actors in films, television, and commercials. His experiences both in front of audiences and behind the scenes, has given Richard a unique set of knowledge and skills that he has generously shared with this film. If that were not enough, Richard is a brilliant painter, and his landscapes, seascapes, and skyscapes are frequently featured at fine galleries.

PAUL VAN HAUTE Paul has established himself as a premier Cinematographer and Director of Photography through his work in numerous feature films, documentaries, and in television. Recent projects include Beethoven in Beijing (Directed by Jennifer Lin and Sharon Mullaly) which was broadcast on PBS Great Performances, and Philadelphia: The Great Experiment (Directed by Andrew Ferrett and Nick Briscoe). An invaluable advisor on The Canote Twins, Paul is the recipient of several Regional Emmy awards.

In addition, we thank countless others who have so generously graced the project with their photographs, video, audio recordings, support, and hospitality!

A Canote pictorial timeline!