The Everly Brothers

The music of the Everly Brothers influenced the Beatles, with Paul McCartney and John Lennon referring to themselves as “the British Everly Brothers”. Keith Richards called Don Everly “one of the finest rhythm guitar players”

Don was born in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on February 1, 1937, and Phil in Chicago, Illinois, on January 19, 1939.

According to family legend, Ike Everly (Phil and Don’s father) and his brothers set the record for the most coal shovelled in a single day at the Muhlenberg coal mine where they all worked as young men.

In the late 1930s, the Everly family left Kentucky to move to Chicago so Ike could pursue his dream of being a musician. In Chicago, Ike played in clubs, on street corners, and had a brief stint on the radio.

The Everly family moved to Shenandoah, Iowa and Ike secured a job singing on KMA radio in the very early morning hours for the local farmers. Eventually, one by one the whole family joined the act.

The house where the Everly family lived is now a museum, complete with the original fold-up bathtub.

In 1953 the family packed up their car and headed to Knoxville, Tennessee. Immediately upon their arrival, they auditioned for The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour on WORL. Much to their surprise, they were immediately hired as the Everly Family.

In 1953, Ike Everly began a correspondence with Chet Atkins. Chet was already a fan of Ike’s distinctive thumb-picking style. Ike proudly told him about his talented sons, Don and Phil. When Ike and Chet eventually met face to face in 1954, Don had recently penned the song “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” and Atkins placed it with the legendary Kitty Wells, who recorded it.

The brothers toured with Buddy Holly in 1957 and 1958. According to Holly’s biographer Philip Norman, they were responsible for persuading Holly and the Crickets to change their outfits from Levi’s and T-shirts to the Everlys’ Ivy League suits.

Their debut single “Bye Bye Love” released in 1957 was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Pop charts. George Harrison reinterpreted it for his 1974 album Dark Horse, changing the words to reference his wife Pattie Boyd leaving him for his friend Eric Clapton. “Bye Bye Love” has also been covered by Simon & Garfunkel.

The Everlys signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1960, where they recorded for 10 years. Their first Warner Bros hit, 1960’s “Cathy’s Clown”, which they wrote and composed themselves, sold eight million copies and became the duo’s biggest-selling record.

In November 1961 — at the height of their fame — the Everly Brothers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. They reportedly did so to avoid being drafted into the Army. They completed 12 weeks of Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. On February 18 1962, shortly after graduating from boot camp, they performed “Jezebel” on the Ed Sullivan Show while wearing their Marine uniforms. The brothers’ stint in the Marines caused their music career to take a nosedive.

The brothers also tried their hand at collaborations. Phil formed the Keestone Family Singers, which featured Glen Campbell and Carole King. Their lone single, “Melodrama”, failed to chart. As Adrian Kimberly, Don recorded a rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance,” which became a Billboard Top 40 hit.

Don Everly told a reporter on July 13, 1973 (via Rolling Stone) “I’m tired of being an Everly Brother.” The following night, he swigged tequila before taking the stage with Phil Everly at the John Wayne Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. After a drunken Don proceeded to mess up the lyrics to “Cathy’s Clown,” an onsite manager stopped the show halfway through. Phil smashed his guitar on the floor before storming offstage, and Don played the rest of the show alone.

During Don’s hiatus from the Everly Brothers, he recorded three solo albums.

There were many collaborations with other artists. Don recorded and toured the world with legendary guitar player Albert Lee among others. His music during the solo years often had a country twang. Don’s band, “The Dead Cowboys,” was a popular fixture around late-night Nashville hot spots.

Phil recorded five albums during his “time off.” He kept himself busy by making television ad movie appearances.

In 1975, Linda Ronstadt had a huge hit with “When Will I Be Loved,” a song Phil had written as a teenager. Phil was awarded the Robert J. Burton BMI Award for the most-played country song of 1975.

In 1983, a group of mutual friends arranged a meet-up for the brothers who quickly patched up their differences. They both agreed the place to hold their reunion concert was at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The Everly Brothers were among the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. They were introduced by Neil Young, who observed that every musical group he had ever belonged to had tried, and failed, to copy the Everly Brothers’ harmonies.

In 1997, the brothers were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

During their recording career, which stretched between 1956 and 1998, they released 21 studio albums, two live albums, 29 compilation albums and 75 singles.

The Everly Brothers had 35 Billboard Top 100 singles, 26 in the top 40. They hold the record for the most Top 100 singles by any duo and trail only Hall & Oates for the most Top 40 singles by a duo.

Phil Everly died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, on January 3, 2014, 16 days before his 75th birthday, of lung disease.

In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everly Brothers No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.

The Everly Brothers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work in the music industry, located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

Don Everly died at his home in Nashville on August 21, 2021, aged 84.

In 2022, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant released Raise the Roof, which contained a cover of the Everly’s “The Price of Love”, produced by T-Bone Burnett.