Backseat DJ: All in the family

While our differences make us unique, it is our similarities that unite us.

Compatibility is harmony.

You may have inherited your father's nose, and you may have your mother's breasts (not so great if you're a guy), but from where did you get your personality? From whom did you receive your sense of humor, artistic perspective or musicality?

The debate of nature vs. nurture is nullified when you grow up in a full family home, and your genetic footprint is provided by the very same people that influence your environment. That is why children of musical parents largely wind up musical.

Stevie Wonder used to use multi-track recording to back up his own vocals. After all, whose voice is more compatible with yours than your own? By that token, the next best harmonic and rhythmic synergy would come from those who hereditarily share your very same gifts .

For this reason, I have chosen to pay tribute to some of the great family acts in popular music history.

Unfortunately, there are way too many to list, so for editorial purposes, I am only including acts that are made up entirely of family members. I have made exceptions for cousins and in-laws, which will heretofore be referred to as "The Pips rule", but stay with me. It'll be fun.

Some of the people who didn't meet the criteria but deserve mention are Sly and the Family Stone, because while there was Sly, Freddy, and Rose Stone, more than half the group was comprised of other musicians which were not related in any way.

Then there were the Finn brothers from New Zealand, who had a little band called Split Enz in the early 80s, and then another group you may have heard of called, Crowded House after that. Same story.

I can't forget the prodigious Brothers Johnson, discovered by Quincy Jones at age 16 and 17 respectively, and had numerous hits in the 70s including one of my favourite dance tunes, Stomp.

When I began listing, I was surprised at how many great family groups came to mind, but if I leave out one of your favorites, please feel free to educate readers with your comments below.

Here they are:

The Andrews Sisters: Do you hear that deafening silence? That's because the only people who remember them are either dead, deaf or couldn't possibly read this small a font. And yet, everyone knows Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, whose style is the yardstick by which good swing music is still measured. It's been covered by everyone from Bette Midler to Christina Aguilera. My favourite is a little yiddish tune by the 3 shiksas called Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.

Bee Gees:

Arguably, the most prolific musical family of all time (although Michael and Janet Jackson's solo careers easily provide the tie-breaker). They have endured 5 decades and the death of 2 of 4 brothers. The Gibbs wrote, produced and performed so many classics for themselves and others, that if I devoted the entire blog to them alone, it would not be enough. Their classic rock days produced To Love Somebody, Words, and I Started a Joke, before they transitioned to disco. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack sold around 400 zillion copies, and they really never stopped.

The Cowsills: The Partridge family were not a real family (unless you count the fact that Shirley Jones was David Cassidy's stepmom), but the family they modeled the show after, were the Cowsills. Their 1st big hit was The Rain, The Park and Other Things, but most people know their definitive version of the title track from the musical Hair.

Gladys Knight & the Pips: The Pips included Gladys' brother "Bubba" and cousins Edward Patten and William Guest. Hence, "The Pips rule". Gladys' voice with Pips' interactive back-up vocals made every performance outstanding. From their rendition of Heard It Through The Grapevine to Midnight Train To Georgia, the rule was created because this list doesn't make sense without them.

Hanson: I only now 3 songs and one of them is MmBop, but whenever I have seen them perform, they've been great. It's not their fault that their 1st song was so damn catchy.

The Isley Brothers: Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon Isley scored their first hit, Shout, in 1959, but it wasn't until '62 that they added the "twist" and scored their next hit, Twist and Shout (Yes, before the Beatles). It was almost 4 more years until their next triumph with This Old Heart of Mine, and then another 3 years before 5th brother Ernie Isley joined to provide the now classic bass-line for their smash hit, It's Your Thing. Then came baby brother Marvin and brother-in-law, Chris Jasper to usher in their Funk-Soul period with songs like Fight The Power and Between the Sheets. Rumour has it that eldest brother Kelly is actually 117 years old now, and they're still touring.

Jacksons: If you include the sum of all parts, this is undisputedly the most successful musical family since the Shmenge Brothers. Individually, they have all played a part in the family's success. Or in Latoya's case, were GIVEN a part. Still, nobody helped her pose nude for Playboy. She did that all by herself. Bravo.

Jonas Brothers: Not really big in my demographic, but you can never argue with success, and if I survived the Osmonds, I can survive these guys.

Kings of Leon: The Followill brothers with cousin Matthew started off with Southern rock and blues, but they spent the last decade experimenting with different genres and it brought them to the big stage. Since 2009 they have had hits like Use Somebody and Sex On Fire, and even won a few Grammies.

The Neville Brothers: Everyone knows Aaron Neville's one-hit wonder, Tell it Like it Is, from 1967. Nothing else happened for 10 years until his uncle Big Chief Jolly, a Mardi Gras Indian in New Orleans asked he and brothers Art, and Cyril to lend their voices to a track he was recording. Later that year, with the addition of brother Charles, the Neville Brothers were formed. Not many commercial hits, but they were innovative interpreters of great music, won a grammy for an instrumental tune called Healing Chant, and were renowned for their live performances.

The Osmonds: If you tell someone now, that you used to confuse the Osmonds' songs with the Jackson 5's, they're liable to slap you with Michael Jackson's other glove, but at the time, it was actually true. Now, we all know which group prevailed, but Donny and Marie are like a poorly-filled tooth, and the pain just keeps coming back.

Pointer Sisters: In 1969, Bonnie and June sang backup for stars like Grace Slick, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop. They added little sister Anita, and enjoyed only marginal success until baby Ruth (no relation to the candy bar) joined them around 1973. You probably wouldn't recognize their early works which were primarily Be-bop and Jazz, but it was quality music. Then Bonnie embarked on her solo career which bore that 1 disco hit, Heaven Must Have Sent You, just in time for the remaining 3 to catch fire. Literally, they had a hit with their version of Bruce Sprigsteen's, Fire. Then came a decade of non-stop hits like He's So Shy, Slow Hand, I'm So Excited, Jump (for my love), and the list goes on. In 2009, Anita and Bonnie were at The "Kibitz Room" at Canter's in LA, when the house band invited them to jam. They sang Fire, and half the room was saying, "Who are these old ladies?", but everyone over 35 understood the magnitude of what they just witnessed.

SheDaisy: Me Likesy SheDaisy. I barely know their music, because every time I see them perform, the blood rushes away from my ears. Seriously though, it's their talent that feeds that sex-appeal. The Osborne sisters have had a slew of hits like This Woman Needs, Don't Worry 'bout a Thing, and God Bless the American Housewife.

The Staple Singers: Roebuck "Pops" Staples formed the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, Yvonne, and Mavis. With gospel roots, they added a little soul which made them successful as a pop group. You'll recognize hits I'll Take You There and Respect Yourself, but the family motif may lose it's appeal next time you hear their hit, Let's Do It Again.

Other groups that deserve honorable mention are:

The Band Perry: If I Die Young, You Lie