You may not know about the country music of the Haley Sisters from Harden, but Jo-Ann and Becky have been singing professionally since 1989, winning plenty of awards along the way.

On Sunday, September 22, they’ll be on stage in Roberts Park, Saltaire, in the finale of the Saltaire Festival.

In the British Country Music Association’s awards of 1992, the Haley Sisters were rated the top British Duo. The following year, they became a trio after guitarist Brian Smith joined them, having worked in Nashville on Crystal Gayle’s album Three Good Reasons.

He married Becky and they live with their daughter Holly at Long Lee near Keighley. Jo-Ann lives with her husband, a plasterer, at Denholme.

They have shows booked until December and a new single, Sweet Music Man, to showcase their style. Since they started out they have had to adapt, Jo-Ann said.

“Brian used to play electric guitar, now he plays acoustic. We will play anything from Elvis to Bob Marley. The country music gigs are in decline. Some of them turned to line-dancing 15 years ago,” says Jo-Ann.

“A lot of clubs are not getting the support now, so we are trying to be a bit more versatile.”