This is a collaboration between Janet Helber and Bryan Ciliberto of Pall of a Past World. We had wanted to do a duet for a long time and when we heard this song, we knew right away it was the right one for us.  We got lots of help from Martin Lucas on the Piano and organ, and from Dick. of Oorlab on the fiddle. Thanks guys! 


The First One To Love you (Louvin  Brothers)  collab - Janet Helber, Bryan Ciliberto

A song written by Si Kahn.  Janet is singing melody, Vicki is on low harmony, Alice on High Harmony. Steve Hinnefeld doing the guitar melody on the instrumental.  We are hoping to get a cello in this for our CD.

Aragon Mill Mixdown

This is a Bob Dylan song. It is among my most favorite songs, and  I  learned it from an old Joan Baez recording.  I recorded this song by myself, although the sisters, Vicki and Alice  will eventually record it with me, I think this worked out pretty well, I hope you all like it to, and share it.

North Country Blues - Janet sings  a Bob Dylan song

Krista Detor is an internationally known singer/songwriter who has just put out a wonderful CD called "Flat Earth Diary." She has also recently toured in Great Britain and Europe, to perform and promote this recording. During the recording of this CD she very thoughtfully asked the Helber Sisters to sing on one of the tracks. It was a wonderful experience for us, and thank you Krista, for thinking of us!  Here is the song that the Helber Sisters sang Harmony on. I am sure you will love it! We feel that it couldn't be better!

Honey Down a String- Krista Detor with harmony by the Helber Sisters

This song is one of my most favorite songs, and a goal of mine is to be able to record this without my missing a note. Steve does a fine job on his part of the instrumentals. We recorded this in 2011, and must have made 8 attempts at getting it right. This was the last attempt, before the other sisters balked, like mules, and refused to sing it again! So this is what we got, and it has it's charm, especially Vicki's and Alice's harmonies at the end. We will be trying to record it again, as soon as Vicki and Alice quite looking cross eyed at me every time I mention the song!  ~ Janet

Billy Gray- song written by Norman Blake- ( a Western Ballad)

Janet and Vicki sing a duet. Alice comes in on high harmony, and John Kellum on the fiddle. The cake in the picture is one that Vicki baked and decorated, and when it was made it was here today, and gone tomorrow. 

Here Today And Gone Tomorrow

Here is another recording from the Thanksgiving Day Jam that I thought was tolerable enough to put up on SC. Hope you all enjoy a good yodeling song. It is one of our favorites.  That's me on the instumental, although I don't usually do all the pickin' and grinnin" on this one, but Steve wasn't with us that day. ~ Janet

Where The Old Red River Flows- live recording from the Thanksgiving day jam.

Here is a song we recorded at band practice. It is one of our favorites written by Utah Phillips. It took a long time to perfect, because it was learned at a particularly sensitive time in our lives, and we couldn't get through it without  crying! (get out your hanky folks!) Times are happier now though, so we can do it! Alice is superb on the main vocal, Vicki on the low harmony, Janet on the High. Steve Hinnefeld does a beautiful guitar instrumental, and this is the debut of our bass player, Patrick Callanan on one of our posts on SC. I think he adds a lot! 

Miner's Lulaby ~a Utah Phillips song

Alice sings this one. We learned it from the Carter family, and we have always loved the fact that the harmony is done differently, than usual. We have Alice singing the high Melody, Janet on the middle harmony and Vicki doing a low harmony. ( Usually the melody is sandwiched between the high and low harmony.)  

The Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea

This is one of our favorite songs, by Delia Bell. She is a Bluegrass musician from Oklahoma who performs with her husband Bill Grant. Sheer poetry!  Fun to play too!  Janet on the melody, Alice on the high harmony, Vicki doing the low harmony. Steve Hinnefeld and Janet playing the guitar instrumental. Patrick Callanan on Bass. 

Moods of a Fool~ a Delia Bell song.

Here is one that we love to sing. Alice is singing the melody. Janet on high harmony, Vicki on low harmony. Steve Hinnefeld on guitar instrumentals along with Janet, Patrick Callanan on Bass. 


Lovers Farewell- an AP Carter song

Vicki sings this one, with Alice on  low harmony, and Janet throwing in a high harmony here and there..... Love the ending on this song...Steve Hinnefeld and Janet on guitars, Patrick Callanan on Bass. This is not perfect, but Vicki and Alice did a great job of singing it!

Helber Sisters live At Bohemian House

Home-  live from High Bohemia House Concert

We have posted this song before on Soundcloud, but this one is a pretty energetic version, and we enjoyed the performance. Janet on melody, Vicki low harmony, Alice high harmony.  Steve Hennefeld and Janet doing guitar work, Patrick Callanan on the bass. Our good friend Cliff Gammon joined us on Dobro.

Where the Old Red River Flows- Live at High Bohemia House Concert

Here is a song written by a friend of ours, Mark Bingham. Mark was a popular singer/songwriter, and a member of the Band Screaming Gypsy Bandits. in Bloomington back when most of us were just starting to perform around town.  We have been singing this song together for many years, since the 1970s.  It's timeless. Janet sings melody, Vicki low harmony, Alice high harmony. Patrick Callanan on Bass, Steve Hinnefeld and Janet on Guitars.

Practice session

All This Waiting

One of our favorite songs, about the strip mining of the Appalachian Mountains.  Janet singing Melody, Vicki low harmony, Alice high harmony.... Steve Hennefeld and Janet on guitars, Patrick Callanan on Bass.

Black Water- a Jean Ritchie song

Vicki sings this song so well, and it was very much appreciated at the Bohemian House.The recording turned out pretty well.  Alice is singing the harmony , while Steve Hinnefeld and Janet play the guitar picking, Patrick Callanan on the Bass.

Coal Tattoo

One of our favorite songs by Darrell Scott. Janet sings melody, Vicki on low harmony, Alice on high harmony.  Janet, and  Steve Hinnefeld on Guitars, Patrick Callanan on Bass.

Helber Sisters-session 4/23/2017

You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive- a Darrell Scott song

We have been singing this song for many years and have a lot of fun with it!!  We learned it from the Carter Family, though we kind've play it like it was a drinking song ...... ah.... well.... home recording by our friend Cliff Gammon.... Janet on melody, Alice on high harmony, Vicki on low harmony, Steve Hinnefeld is singing a great AP harmony in here too.. Laugh with us, even though it's a sad song.

Sweet Fern

This song is one of our favorite Louvin Brothers Songs.... We posted it before, but this newer recording turned out so well, we just had to share it.  Janet on melody, Alice on high harmony (and I do mean High!) Vicki on the low harmony. Guitars Steve and Janet, Patrick Callanan on bass.

When I Stop Dreaming

A song written by Jean Ritchie about the pollution caused by strip mining in the mountains of Kentucky.  this is the first recording I have done on the small recording studio I just got. The sisters, Vicki and Alice will add some harmonies, hopefully soon!  

  hope you enjoy this!      JANET

Black Water--Song written by Jean Ritchie

The Helber Sisters, Vicki and Janet, were a duo through the 1970 and 1980s, in Bloomington,Indiana. We grew up singing together as children. Janet started playing the guitar at the age of 13, after hearing  Bob Dylan on the radio.. Janet and Vicki sang in bands, did back up vocals for local musician's recordings, and sang together at local Folk Festivals. After we started raising our families, and Janet's guitar broke and was given the last rights, we did not sing together for countless years.
      A few years ago Janet found a vintage 1935 Gibson Kalamazoo guitar, and bought it. Inspired by this wonderful instrument, Janet started practicing, Alice (Vicki's daughter) joined, with her beautiful, strong voice, and we are now a trio! Our friend, Steve Hinnefeld joined us with his guitar and usually is the guitarist picking out the tunes on the instrumentals. Lately Janet has learned a bit from Steve and is also picking out a few of the instrumentals.  Steve has  started putting in a bit of harmony lately, although not on any of these recordings.  Vicki, Janet and Alice take turns at the various vocals. 
     As of this past summer (2014) we now have a bass player, Patrick Callahan, a dear friend who has returned to Bloomington recently after living out East for several decades.  We are having a lot of fun! We are becoming a full band, and hope to record again soon. 


Helber Sisters

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