Rock 'n roll Teamster brothers star in hit TV show, 'The Voice'

Colton and Zach Swon, known as “The Swon Brothers” on NBC’s hit series “The Voice,” recognize that their success didn’t happen without help.

“No matter how great you are, without friends it doesn’t work,” said Zach Swon, 28, in a recent interview. The Swon Brothers should know about teamwork.

Their father, Kelly Swon, is the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 516 in Muscogee, Okla. Teamsters there are already supporting the Swon Brothers in the competition, but they need your support if they’re going to win.

“The Voice” is a singing competition/reality show that airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. (EST) on NBC. It’s one of the most-watched shows on television, but the Swon Brothers need your help in spreading the word that they’re not only talented singers—they’re also the children of a Teamster principal officer who drove a UPS truck in Oklahoma for 25 years.

“We never know when they’re going to be on. They keep it quiet,” said Kelly Swon, explaining that people often ask him the next time his boys will appear on the show.

In their last appearance, they advanced to the knockout rounds, which are set to air on April 29 and 30. In advancing, they became the first duo in the show’s four-season history to make it past the battle rounds. 

Kelly said his sons play music full time and “they’ve done it basically all their lives. They both sing lead and play multiple instruments.” They can also play and sing any style of music, he said. The brothers got started at a young age singing in a gospel group called Exodus, their father said. The boys then went on to perform in a country music show with about 30 other people in it.

 Zach recently attributed the brothers’ success to the fact that their parents made them sing together starting early in their lives. “Zach, the oldest, started playing drums professionally when he was 7 years old,” Kelly  said. “After they did the music show for several years, they boys wanted to venture out on their own.” 

Colton, 24, even made it to the finals of the 2008 season of “American Idol.” The brothers have said that a support system of fans, family and friends has given them an edge in this competition. “Really, we don’t have any secrets or tips. But the main thing that we did before every battle is pray. We have relied on praying through this whole thing. And believe it or not, you know, it’s calmed our nerves. It’s got us through all the stress. And that is the God-honest truth,” Colton said in a recent interview.

“We’re not the best duo that’s ever been on the show, I’m sure, but I think we are just so comfortable with each other, it really helps us when it comes to high-pressure situations, you know. And I know that I could not be on that stage without him, and I wouldn’t want to,” Zach recently said.