The York Brothers, George and Leslie “Les” York, grew up in a musical family in Lawrence County, Kentucky. From an early age, they learned to play guitar and harmonize and began performing locally.
George left school after the eighth grade and briefly worked in the coal mines. Even while mining, he continued to play music on the side. Eventually, he left Kentucky to pursue music full time, performing in Denver, Colorado, and then in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he worked on local radio.
Meanwhile, Leslie, seven years younger, showcased his talents by winning a talent contest in Lexington, Kentucky, which helped boost his confidence as a performer and set him on a professional path of his own.
Reuniting and Rising to Recognition
George and Les reunited in Portsmouth, Ohio, before relocating to Detroit, Michigan, in the late 1930s. Drawn by city life and the growing Southern community working in the automobile industry, they adopted the name The York Brothers. They quickly became popular performing in taverns that supported country music and on local radio, where their sibling harmonies and guitar work stood out among other hillbilly acts.
Their career expanded with the 1939 recording of “Hamtramck Mama” on the Detroit based Universal label, which established them as one of the city’s leading country acts. The song reportedly sold in the hundreds of thousands, especially through jukebox play around Detroit and across the Midwest. Its playful and suggestive lyrics sparked controversy among officials and residents in Hamtramck, Michigan, which only helped to boost its popularity.
In 1941, the York Brothers signed with Decca Records, recording several sides that blended traditional country, hillbilly boogie, and blues influences. They later recorded for several Detroit based labels, including Mellow Records, which kept “Hamtramck Mama” in circulation through new pressings and variations for a growing regional audience.
Their musical career was interrupted when both brothers enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. George served in the Pacific theater, while Les served in Europe.
Postwar Recordings and New Directions
After the war, the York Brothers reunited and continued their music career, moving to Nashville, Tennessee. They made appearances at venues including the Grand Ole Opry and recorded for labels such as Bullet and King Records in the late 1940s. Their output in this period folded elements of Western swing, boogie, and rhythm and blues into a country framework, keeping their sound current with broader trends in postwar popular music.
In 1953, they relocated with their families to the Dallas and Fort Worth area of Texas, performing regularly on regional television and radio programs such as the Big D Jamboree. In 1957, Leslie recorded solo material while continuing to perform with George, showing that each brother could carry lead duties even as the duo remained active.
In 1963, the brothers established York Bros. Records, releasing regional singles such as “Monday Morning Blues.” Over time, their focus shifted more toward independent production and loyal regional audiences rather than chasing national chart success in an industry that was changing rapidly around them.
Legacy of the York Brothers
The York Brothers left a lasting mark on American country music, especially in Detroit’s early country scene. Their blend of traditional country, hillbilly boogie, and blues helped shape what later listeners and historians would recognize as precursors to rockabilly and other roots oriented styles.
Songs like “Hamtramck Mama” demonstrated their ability to connect with urban audiences while maintaining strong Appalachian musical roots. Their close harmonies and song choices also helped inspire future generations, including artists such as the Everly Brothers, who recorded the Yorks’ song “Long Time Gone.”
Though their fame was largely regional, the York Brothers are celebrated as trailblazers from Lawrence County, Kentucky, whose music bridged rural traditions with emerging urban audiences and left a musical legacy that continues to be appreciated today.
Sources and Further Reading
Car City Country. “Hamtramck Mama Celebrates Diamond Anniversary.” Last modified 2014. https://carcitycountry.com/2014/hamtramck-mama-celebrates-diamond-anniversary/
Car City Country. “A Detroit Discography of the York Brothers.” Last modified 2012. https://carcitycountry.com/2012/a-detroit-discography-of-the-york-brothers/
Michigan Rock and Roll Legends. “Michigan Hillbillies: The York Brothers.” Accessed December 31, 2025. https://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/blog/394-ch-2-michigan-hillbillies
Rocky-52.net. “York Brothers Biography.” Accessed December 31, 2025. https://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursy/york_b.htm
Wikipedia contributors. “The York Brothers.” Wikipedia. Last modified December 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_York_Brothers
Maki, Craig. Detroit Country Music: Mountaineers, Cowboys, and Rockabillies. With Keith Cady. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2013. https://www.press.umich.edu/5592531/detroit_country_music