The Okee Dokee Brothers release new album early to provide hope to families

GRAMMY® Award-winning The Okee Dokee Brothers are encouraging hope with a new collection of 27 original songs on their latest two-CD studio album, “Songs for Singin’,” which was released May 1, two months earlier than their original release date.

At a time when families are quarantined at home, “Songs for Singin’” draws from the age-old tradition of singing to heal the soul during difficult times. The Okee Dokee Brothers have written a slew of catchy songs so fans can join in and belt out. In the spirit of American folk legends Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, the album presents timeless messages of hope and unity.

Holyoke residents may remember The Okee Dokee Brothers — Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing — from their performance with the Phillips County Arts Council in April 2016. And yes, Joe is related to the other Mailanders from Holyoke. In fact, he was born in Haxtun and lived in Holyoke before he moved to Denver as a young boy. There, he became childhood friends with Lansing.

Some of Mailander’s Colorado experiences influenced songs on the new album. “‘Language of the Flowers’ is a song that brings me right back to my grandparents’ backyard garden on a hot summer day in Holyoke — when we had the time to smell the flowers. My grandparents always seemed to go slow enough to soak in nature’s beauty,” said Mailander.

“On a different note, the song ‘Campin’ is rooted in our childhood memories of family camping trips in the Rocky Mountains with all their ups and downs!” he said.

The Okee Dokee Brothers’ previous albums had outdoor adventure themes (“Can You Canoe?,” “Through the Woods,” “Saddle Up” and “Winterland”); however, the duo has stepped away from that and is engaging their fans through meaningful social conversations in the form of call and response tunes, sea shanties, church hymns, campfire songs, all-ages social songs and protest songs.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.