The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and-comedy team, formed by real-life brothers Tom (or Tommy) (born February 2, 1937) and Dick Smothers (born November 20, 1939). They were both born on Governor's Island in New York Harbor, where their father, a U.S. Army officer, was stationed. Their father died during the Second World War in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, and they were raised by their mother in the Los Angeles area. The brothers attended San Jose State University.