New Zealand’s National Treasures the Topp Twins
Ranked #10,688 in Entertainment, #131,406 overall
The Topp Twins - Comedy, Country, Folk, Yodeling.
Identical twin sisters Lynda and Jools Topp born 14 May 1958, Huntly, New Zealand are the folk singing sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers.
Their parents, Jean and Peter Topp to believe they could do anything, and were tomboys from the start.
They have a brother Bruce.
Jean taught her girls to sing standards such as Springtime in the Rockies and when seven-year old Lynda first heard Australia's yodeling sweetheart June Holmes belting out "My Pinto Pony " on a neighbors old 78 record, she went into a swoon.
Jools remembers her sister's passion for learning to yodel: "After Lynda heard her first yodel she became obsessed about learning it.
She used to ride to the nearby farm about 30 minutes up the road on horseback, listen to their old wind-up gramophone, jump back on her horse, race home, get out the guitar and desperately try and remember what she had just heard - we finally did get it to sound right and as an added consequence became very good horsewomen".
I remember the Topp Twins first because of their busking and Lynda's yodeling, "which she was good at" and I love listening to yodeling.
Also remember the court case where they were arrested for obstruction, when the crowd grew too large.
The Topp twins defended themselves in a high-profile court case and won.
Their parents, Jean and Peter Topp to believe they could do anything, and were tomboys from the start.
They have a brother Bruce.
Jean taught her girls to sing standards such as Springtime in the Rockies and when seven-year old Lynda first heard Australia's yodeling sweetheart June Holmes belting out "My Pinto Pony " on a neighbors old 78 record, she went into a swoon.
Jools remembers her sister's passion for learning to yodel: "After Lynda heard her first yodel she became obsessed about learning it.
She used to ride to the nearby farm about 30 minutes up the road on horseback, listen to their old wind-up gramophone, jump back on her horse, race home, get out the guitar and desperately try and remember what she had just heard - we finally did get it to sound right and as an added consequence became very good horsewomen".
I remember the Topp Twins first because of their busking and Lynda's yodeling, "which she was good at" and I love listening to yodeling.
Also remember the court case where they were arrested for obstruction, when the crowd grew too large.
The Topp twins defended themselves in a high-profile court case and won.
Kiwi Celebrities - Topp Twins
During the eighties, with the help of the Students Arts Council, the Twins toured every corner of New Zealand, producing sell-out theatre shows based on their life-stories and laced with political satire.The best of the Twins' stage shows were filmed for a Television Special for which they won several NZ Film & TV Awards including 1987 Entertainers of the Year, Best Entertainment Program and Best Original Music
In the late 1990's, the Topp Twins created their own top-rating TV series, which ran for three seasons and showcased their popular cast of Kiwi characters, including Camp Mother, the Bowling Ladies and cross-dressing Ken and Ken.
The Series won the twins several awards at the NZ Film and TV Awards and has screened on the ABC and Foxtel in Australia.
Highly successful tours to Canada, the States and Britain followed.
They performed at music festivals alongside Billy Bragg, Lucinda Williams, Michelle Shocked and Hank Wangford, and enjoyed long-running theatre seasons in London and Edinburgh, which met with exceptional reviews and extended their following globally.
The Topp Twins returned to NZ to develop and produce their own prime time TV Series.
Do Not Adjust Your Twinset, which became one of TV3's top rating shows and won the Topps' several more TV awards.
Known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances.
They have performed around the world as an original country-music comedy duo for more than 25 years and continue to delight audiences.
In 2004 the Topp Twins received the Queens Medal for Services to Entertainment and in 2008 was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.
KIWI CELRBRITIES - Topp Twins Entertainment
Topp Twins - Movie Trailer
Breast Cancer - Jools Topp
Jools Topp was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2006 at the age of 48.
Originally examined by a physician in January 2006, nothing was done as it was not detected by a mammogram.
Jools Topp was diagnosed seven months later when the breast cancer showed up with an ultrasound exam.
She recovered well after receiving a mastectomy in October 2006 and several months of chemotherapy.
She and her sister Lynda were already breast cancer activists and continue to use their celebrity to educate the public about the disease.
Linda Topp - NZ Country and Western Singer Yodeling
Top Twins @ zoomusic feb 28th 2010 .. yodeling love song
Topp Twins 50 Birthday
Lynda's Canterbury home which she shared with her partner Donna, a house on a 10 ha farmlet in the Canterbury town of Staveley.
It was not just a birthday party but a chance to celebrate that Jools was still alive after her battle with cancer in October 2006.
It was a special 50 birthday as they had not spent one birthday in all their 50 years apart.
As Jools describes her mastectomy and six episodes of grueling chemotherapy as "a lit of a hard time", she admits there were moments when she doubted she would see her half-century.
But she manage to get through it, "Even now there's no final prognosis".
The hospital isn't going to say, "You're cured", and people can go downhill pretty quickly.
So I live each day in the moment, I don't put things off. If I want to do something, I do it.
But as Lynda say's " you do'nt have to be diagnosed with something to relies you need to make the most of every day. As human beings, that's what we should all be doing.
Just like Jools, the breast cancer ordeal has driven Lynda to live her own dream.
Jools and Partner Mary moved to a lifestyle block north of Auckland about 2001-02, while Lynda stayed in Auckland.
Lynda for as long as she could remember she had wanted her own farm, she also loved fly-fishing, decided to move to he South Island in NZ.
She has horses, sheep and a few cows on her little farmlet and it's perfect.
Now they both have a little farmlet that they have always wanted and their music careers have made that possible.
As for a 50th Birthday present they gave each other a hug. "Thats all they needed".
Topp Twins - Folk singing sister comedy duo of New Zealand Entertainers
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YODELMAN
Nov 20, 2011 @ 6:06 pm | delete
- I adore the Topp Twins. Not only are they as funny as can be, they make beautiful harmony singing and Lynda's yodeling is..."TOPPS". She yodels with passion and beauty and I love to hear it. Thanks for posting this tribute. Many of us in the USA don't know of the twins and how they can bring some joy to the world.
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KiwiGayle
Jun 23, 2011 @ 10:58 pm | delete
- Just showed the DVD to a bunch of yankee friends - most confusing? The outdoor bowls ladies. They laughed a lot and I had to translate! Thanks for posting about my favorite Lesbians!
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kiwinana71
Jun 24, 2011 @ 2:04 am | delete
- Thanks for visiting and commenting. Yes I enjoy them very much also.
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What are the Topp Twins up to in 2011
Untouchable Girls in America, what a ride it's been so far! that was 23/05/11
Lynda and Jools have taking New York and California by storm as they bring "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" to American audiences.
The US theatrical release has been a whirlwind tour so far, with great fun meeting new friends and new fans in New York City, San Francisco, and more.
"The ladies emit a genuine warmth that reels audiences in," said -The New York Times, "Resistance is futile," warned Seattle Weekly, telling readers "don't even try not falling for these adorable twin lesbian political-activist farmer/folksinger/comedians."
To keep up with the adventures and see some great photos from the premiers, check The Twins out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/topptwins
Lynda and Jools have taking New York and California by storm as they bring "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" to American audiences.
The US theatrical release has been a whirlwind tour so far, with great fun meeting new friends and new fans in New York City, San Francisco, and more.
"The ladies emit a genuine warmth that reels audiences in," said -The New York Times, "Resistance is futile," warned Seattle Weekly, telling readers "don't even try not falling for these adorable twin lesbian political-activist farmer/folksinger/comedians."
To keep up with the adventures and see some great photos from the premiers, check The Twins out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/topptwins
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