In an earlier post I covered the top 3 rockin’ family bands bands which included The Jonas Brothers, Hanson and of course The Jackson 5 (perhaps the most talented musical family out there simply because of Michael’s awesome voice and moves). Now it’s time to look at the next batch. This line-up is similar in that it encompasses both recent acts who have hit it big and those classic groups that were big when I was a kid. Both lists offer two things: they are an excellent reminder of great music that you can listen to with your kid and they show that families who stick together can sometimes accomplish great things. So here we go, round two of the top rockin’ families!

3) The Bacon Brothers
You may know Kevin Bacon from Apollo 13, A Few Good Men and Footloose. In his spare time Kevin has a pretty serious career as a musician with The Bacon Brothers. The band formed in 1995 (although they had known each other much longer) and consists of Kevin and his brother, Michael. They’ve released five albums with the most recent being New Years Day in 2008. Their rock / folk sound might not appeal to everyone but the cool thing about these guys is that they’re not just in it to make money. They appear on Sandra Boynton’s CD Dog Train and recorded the title track for Philadelphia Chickens, both of which will appeal to your kids. Check out “New Years Day,” from when they stopped by Daryl Hall’s house to play.

2) Kings of Leon
Brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared and cousin Matthew are all Followill boys. They are also known as the Kings of Leon (named after their father Ivan “Leon” Followill.) The band formed in 1999 in Nashville with a southern rock sound that progressed to more of an arena rock vibe. If you haven’t heard Only By The Night, their 2008 hit album, you might be the only person in the U.S. who hasn’t. While I wouldn’t play the whole album for my kids, unless you want to be asked a lot of questions about “Sex on Fire,” definitely play “Use Somebody,” their Grammy winning single. The song is catchy and builds a wall of a sound that would make Phil Spector proud.

1) Bee Gees
How the these guys went from the brothers Gibb to being named Bee Gees is still confusing to me, but their music launched a movement in the late 70’s and is still toe-tapping today. Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb were well-known songwriters and pop stars as well as disco pioneers and their music on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack is still classic. “How Deep is Your Love,” “Night Fever” and “Stayin Alive” all hit #1. It is estimated that the Bee Gees have sold more than 200 million records (40 million alone from Saturday Night Fever.) It’s never too late to introduce your kids to disco, even if you might think it’s dead. Play them “Stayin Alive” and watch the magic happen.

They say the family that plays together stays together. When it comes to musical families this doesn’t always ring true. It’s always easier to rock out with your siblings since they’re around anyway, but what happens if everyone wants to be the lead singer? What happens if you don’t always see eye to eye about the direction of your music? Sometimes it’s harder to tell a brother or sister that you don’t like their playing than another band member. Just making it in a family band is a challenge, let alone making musical history.

Remember what Vito Corleone told Sonny in The Godfather? “Never let anyone outside the family know what you’re thinking.” That might not really tie into a list of the top rockin’ families, but it is a great quote. So here, without further ado (or more random family quotes), are the top rockin’ family bands:

3) The Jonas Brothers
These three brothers from New Jersey seem to have it all going for them. They’ve released four albums since 2006, have dated celebrities like Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift and had the full force of the Disney machine behind them. With this much money and fame you might think these guys are jaded superstars who lack manners. Well, I actually met these guys once and I can tell you that Nick, Kevin and Joe are three of the most polite young men I have ever come across. Perhaps it’s their upbringing because their father is a former pastor. The Jonas Bros. also give 10% of their earnings to charity. Aside from their good work, these kids know how to craft a pop hit. Check out “S.O.S.” off their 2007 Jonas Brothers album. Hey, 81 million hits on YouTube can’t be wrong.

2) Hanson
When you say Hanson, the first response you usually get is, “Wait, those three brothers from MMMBop?” I’m happy to report that those three kids have grown up into fine musicians who are all dads now. They got their start in 1992 at the Mayfest Arts Festival in Tulsa. They launched “MMMBop” off of Middle of Nowhere in 1997 and a phenomenon was born. But the three brothers, Taylor, Isaac and Zac, grew into their music comfortably and veered away from the immature sound and lyrics of “MMMBop.” Check out “If Only” from 2000 to see what I mean. It’s a great track and if you can get your kids hooked on Hanson with “MMMBop” they just might go for this one too. Also, check out Hanson’s latest offering, Shout It Out.

1) Jackson 5
No family list would be complete without the Jackson 5. I can promise you that every kid will love “I Want You Back” and “ABC”, while parents won’t be able to stop tapping their feet at the same time. Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Michael started in 1964 and never really quit. The funny thing about the Jackson 5 isn’t that their lead singer was the most talented–that’s often the case with some bands–the unusual thing about the Jackson 5 was their lead singer was eight years old and sang and moved like he had been doing it all his life. He owned whatever stage he performed on. Check out the classic “ABC” and make sure you play it really loud for the kids.