The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers
Company type	Duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1956
Founder	Isaac Donald "Don" Everly and Phillip "Phil" Everly
Headquarters	Nashville, United States
Products	Music recordings, live performances

The Everly Brothers were a renowned American duo celebrated for their tight vocal harmonies and mastery of steel-string acoustic guitar. Comprising Isaac Donald "Don" Everly and Phillip "Phil" Everly, they merged rock and roll, country, and pop influences, effectively laying the groundwork for the country rock genre.

Born into a musical household, Don and Phil showcased their talents on radio and television from an early age. Their career took off after being discovered by producer Chet Atkins in 1956. Their initial major success came with the 1957 chart-topping single "Bye Bye Love," followed by prominent hits such as "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," and "Problems." After signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1960, they released "Cathy's Clown," which became their highest-selling single. Although their musical output slowed following their enlistment in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, they continued to produce hits through 1962, with "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)" marking their final top-10 entry.

During the 1960s, their popularity in the United States diminished due to evolving musical trends, conflicts with Acuff-Rose Music CEO Wesley Rose, and increased substance use. Despite this, they sustained a strong fan base in the United Kingdom and Canada while maintaining an active touring schedule. The early 1970s saw both brothers embark on solo endeavors before their initial separation in 1973. They reunited in 1983 and performed sporadically until approximately 2005. Phil Everly died in 2014, followed by Don Everly’s passing in 2021.

The Everly Brothers profoundly impacted later musicians including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel through their distinctive harmonies and guitar techniques. They were ranked first on Rolling Stone's list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time (2015) and were inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) and Country Music Hall of Fame (2001). In recognition of his rhythm guitar work on "Wake Up Little Susie," Don Everly received the Musicians Hall of Fame's Iconic Riff Award in 2019.

Early life, family, and education

Isaac Donald "Don" Everly was born on February 1, 1937, in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, while Phillip "Phil" Everly entered the world on January 19, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois. Their parents were Isaac Milford "Ike" Everly Jr. (1908–1975), a guitarist, and Margaret Embry Everly (1919–2021). The brothers descended primarily from German and English ancestry, with some Cherokee lineage as well. Actor James Best, also from Muhlenberg County, was their first cousin.

Margaret married Ike at age 15 when he was 26. Ike had worked in coal mining since he was 14 but pursued music under his father’s encouragement. The family spent much of Don and Phil’s childhood in Shenandoah, Iowa, briefly attending Longfellow Elementary School in Waterloo, Iowa before settling in Shenandoah in 1944. During the mid-1940s, Ike hosted a music program on radio stations KMA and KFNF.

In 1953, the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Don and Phil attended West High School. By 1955 they relocated to Madison, Tennessee, while the brothers established themselves in Nashville. Don completed high school that year; Phil graduated from Peabody Demonstration School in 1957. This relocation enabled them to concentrate fully on advancing their recording careers.

Early career (1940s-1950s)

Don and Phil Everly started their musical journey as youngsters, performing on KMA and KFNF radio stations in Shenandoah under the names "Little Donnie and Baby Boy Phil." They also sang alongside their parents as part of the Everly Family.

During their time in Knoxville, the brothers appeared on Cas Walker’s Farm and Home Hour, which brought them to the notice of family acquaintance Chet Atkins, who was then managing RCA Victor studios in Nashville. Soon after, their family moved to Nashville. Although connected to RCA Victor through Atkins, he arranged for them to record with Columbia Records in early 1956. Their first single, "Keep a-Lovin' Me," penned by Don, did not achieve commercial success, resulting in their departure from Columbia.

Atkins facilitated an introduction to Wesley Rose of Acuff-Rose music publishing. By signing with Acuff-Rose as songwriters in late 1956, they secured a recording contract. In 1957, Rose linked them to Archie Bleyer at Cadence Records, where they signed and recorded in February. Their breakthrough hit "Bye Bye Love", which had been turned down by 30 other artists, climbed to number two on the pop charts behind Elvis Presley's "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", topped the country charts, and reached number five on rhythm and blues charts. Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, this track became their first million-selling single.

Working closely with the Bryants yielded numerous significant hits in both the US and UK markets, including "Wake Up Little Susie", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", "Bird Dog", and "Problems." Don also achieved songwriting acclaim with "(Till) I Kissed You," which peaked at number four on US pop charts.

The Everly Brothers toured alongside Buddy Holly during 1957-58 and influenced the Crickets’ adoption of Ivy League-style suits. Don mentioned that Holly wrote "Wishing" especially for them, while Phil emphasized their shared Southern background and roots in country music. Although some accounts state Phil served as a pallbearer at Holly's February 1959 funeral, he clarified that he attended but did not carry the casket. Don was absent from the funeral due to his grief.

Mid-career (1960s–1973)

Following a three-year stint with Cadence, the Everly Brothers signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1960, where they recorded for the next ten years. Their initial Warner Bros. success was the 1960 self-penned hit "Cathy's Clown", which sold eight million copies, becoming their highest-selling single and the first Warner Bros. release available in the UK.

In the United States, other notable Warner Bros. singles included "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" (1960, peaking at number seven on pop charts), "Walk Right Back" (1961, also number seven), "Crying in the Rain" (1962, reaching number six), and "That's Old Fashioned" (1962, hitting number nine). Meanwhile, between 1960 and 1962, Cadence Records issued previously unreleased tracks such as Phil’s "When Will I Be Loved", which climbed to number eight on pop charts.

During the 1960s in the UK, the duo achieved 18 top-40 singles under Warner Bros., including multiple top-10 entries like "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes" (1961, which reached number one) and "The Price of Love" (1965, peaking at number two).

By 1962, their record sales had amassed $35 million. However, disputes arose during the recording of "Temptation," leading to a conflict with Wesley Rose that restricted their access to Acuff-Rose’s catalog of songwriters, notably Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. Between 1961 and early 1964, they recorded material by other writers and adopted pseudonyms to circumvent royalty payments; ultimately, Acuff-Rose secured legal rights over these copyrights.

The brothers also established Calliope Records to pursue solo ventures. Don released big-band instrumental tracks under the alias "Adrian Kimberly," scoring a U.S. top-40 hit in 1961. Phil created the Keestone Family Singers featuring artists like Glen Campbell and Carole King; however, Calliope ceased operations by 1962.

Their final U.S. top-10 single was "That's Old Fashioned," produced by their mentor Archie Bleyer in 1962.

After joining the United States Marine Corps Reserve in October 1961, their public profile diminished. During military service, they made a single appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show dressed in Marine uniforms.

Following discharge, their American chart performance declined sharply: only three of twenty-seven Warner Bros. singles released from 1963 to 1970 entered the Billboard Hot 100, none surpassing number 31; album sales also fell considerably. Their first two Warner albums reached number nine in the US charts; subsequent releases seldom charted.

The resolution of the Acuff-Rose dispute in 1964 allowed them to collaborate again with the Bryants. Nonetheless, both struggled with amphetamine addiction—Don’s condition was particularly severe, resulting in hospitalization after a nervous breakdown.

Despite diminishing U.S. popularity prior to the British Invasion, they sustained strong audiences in Canada, the UK, and Australia throughout much of the decade. The 1966 album Two Yanks in England, produced with The Hollies who contributed songs, demonstrated this international focus. Their last U.S. top-40 hit was "Bowling Green" in 1967.

Toward the decade’s close, they returned to country rock with the critically acclaimed Roots (1968). However, they no longer dominated North American or UK charts; their Warner Bros. contract concluded in 1970.

That same year they hosted a summer replacement series for Johnny Cash's ABC-TV program featuring Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Wonder.

Don’s solo debut failed commercially in 1970; the brothers resumed touring together in 1971 and released two albums on RCA during 1972–1973 with Lindsey Buckingham joining them on tour.

Tensions peaked during their declared final performance on July 14, 1973 at Knott's Berry Farm, when Phil smashed his guitar and exited mid-show; Don remarked that "The Everly Brothers died 10 years ago." They did not reunite musically for over ten years and maintained limited contact throughout the late ’70s aside from family occasions such as their father’s funeral in 1975.

Solo careers (1973–1983)

Between 1973 and 1983, Phil and Don each embarked on individual musical paths. Don experienced moderate acclaim on the US country charts during the mid to late 1970s, performing with his group, Dead Cowboys, and collaborating with Albert Lee. In 1976, he also appeared solo at a country music festival in London, where he garnered enthusiastic audience reactions despite receiving mixed critiques from reviewers.

Phil lent his backing vocals to Roy Wood's 1975 album Mustard and contributed to two tracks on Warren Zevon's self-titled 1976 release. During the time Zevon played in Phil's supporting band, Phil proposed both the title and concept for Zevon's breakthrough single "Werewolves of London".

Don recorded the song "Everytime You Leave" alongside Emmylou Harris for her 1979 album Blue Kentucky Girl.

While Phil was more active in recording during this period, his commercial success was limited until the early 1980s. He composed "Don't Say You Don't Love Me No More" for the 1978 Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way But Loose, performing it as a duet with co-star Sondra Locke. Additionally, he wrote "One Too Many Women in Your Life" for the film's 1980 sequel Any Which Way You Can and participated in Locke’s backing ensemble.

In 1983, Phil achieved solo recognition in the UK with the release of Phil Everly, an album primarily recorded in London. The project featured notable musicians such as Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, drummer Terry Williams, and keyboardist Pete Wingfield. The single "She Means Nothing to Me", co-led by Cliff Richard, reached the UK top 10, while "Louise", penned by Ian Gomm, secured a spot within the UK top 50.

Reunion and subsequent career (1983–2005)

The Everly Brothers reunited on September 23, 1983, for a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, concluding their decade-long solo ventures. This reunion was initiated by Phil and Don along with Terry Slater and musical director Wingfield. The performance was recorded for a live album and later broadcast via cable television in January 1984. Following this, they returned to studio work as a duo, releasing EB '84 under the production of Dave Edmunds. The lead single "On the Wings of a Nightingale", written by Paul McCartney, achieved top 10 status on adult contemporary charts and represented their final appearances on both US Hot 100 and UK charts. McCartney expressed admiration for them, remarking, "When John and I started to write songs, I was Phil and he was Don."

Their last charting single came in 1986 with "Born Yesterday" from the album sharing its title. Throughout this period, they also contributed backing vocals or duets with artists such as Paul Simon, including participation on his 1986 Graceland title track. In 1990, Phil collaborated with Dutch artist René Shuman on "On Top of the World," featured on Shuman's album Set the Clock on Rock. A live BBC recording from 1981 of "All I Have to Do Is Dream", featuring Cliff Richard alongside Phil, reached the UK top 20 in 1994.

In 1998, their final studio effort as a duo was recording "Cold" for the musical Whistle Down the Wind, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman.

The brothers joined Simon and Garfunkel on their "Old Friends" reunion tour during 2003–2004. The live album Old Friends: Live on Stage includes conversations about the Everlys' impact as well as performances of all four artists singing "Bye Bye Love." Previously, Simon and Garfunkel had worked with them; the Everlys provided backing vocals on Simon’s Graceland title track, while Simon and Garfunkel covered "Wake Up, Little Susie" at their Central Park concert in 1981.

Although no official split occurred, the Everly Brothers ceased performing together around 2005. Don later revealed they became estranged again during their seventies and did not reconcile before Phil's passing in 2014.

Phil contributed vocals to country musician Vince Gill's 2006 album These Days, singing "Sweet Little Corrina." Earlier in his career, he provided harmony vocals on JD Souther's 1979 record You're Only Lonely.

Subsequent events

Don Everly made an appearance at the Annual Music Masters event on October 25, 2014, where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated the Everly Brothers. During the event, he delivered a rendition of their timeless track "Bye Bye Love". His last live appearance occurred in 2018 during Paul Simon's farewell tour in Nashville, where he joined Simon on stage to perform “Bye Bye Love”, replicating Phil Everly's original tenor harmony.

In January 2016, Don publicly declared his support for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign—the first occasion he backed a political figure. He explained that following Phil's passing, he felt unrestrained to share his political opinions, as their differing views had previously discouraged him from endorsing candidates openly.

Passings

Phil Everly passed away on January 3, 2014, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center located in Burbank, California. He was 74 years old and succumbed to lung disease. His wife attributed his death to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease linked to smoking; in his later years, Phil depended on oxygen therapy and various medications.

In a 2014 conversation, Don Everly revealed that both brothers had ceased smoking in the late 1960s, although Phil resumed during their period apart until quitting again in 2001. Don also mentioned a familial predisposition to lung ailments, noting their father died from black lung disease. He described how political and personal differences led to their estrangement but underscored their unparalleled musical bond. Don confessed he had not fully come to terms with Phil’s death and kept some of Phil’s ashes at home, maintaining a daily ritual of greeting them each morning.

Don Everly died at his residence in Nashville on August 21, 2021, at the age of 84. His death occurred just months before their mother, Margaret Everly, who passed away in December 2021 at the age of 102.

Musical style and inspirations

The Everly Brothers’ sound fused components of rock and roll, country, and pop. Their genre is often described as country rock, rock and roll, rockabilly, and country music. They are acknowledged as trailblazers in the country rock genre. Both Don and Phil played guitar and focused on vocal harmony structured around diatonic thirds. Don usually sang the baritone harmony while Phil provided the tenor part. Exceptions include "Since You Broke My Heart" (1958), where their voices intertwine intricately, and "I'll See Your Light" (1977), which features Phil on lower harmony with Don singing higher. Don commonly took lead on solo passages like in "Bye Bye Love," whereas Phil led vocals on the 1965 track "It's All Over."

Enduring impact

During the late 1950s, the Everly Brothers rose as prominent close-harmony vocalists within the rock and roll youth culture, significantly shaping influential 1960s groups such as the Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel, many of whom incorporated Everly Brothers songs into their early sets.

Their influence is particularly notable with the Beatles, who modeled the vocal arrangement of "Please Please Me" after "Cathy's Clown". Paul McCartney mentioned 'Phil and Don' in his song "Let 'Em In" from the 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. Keith Richards regarded Don Everly as "one of the finest rhythm [guitar] players". Paul Simon, who worked alongside them on "Graceland", praised their flawless and heartfelt harmonies, acknowledging their pivotal role bridging country, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll.

Achievements and honors

The Everly Brothers secured a total of 35 singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart, with 26 of these reaching the top 40—holding the record for the highest number of Top 100 singles by any duo and ranking second only to Hall & Oates in terms of Top 40 hits by a duo. Within the United Kingdom, they achieved 30 charting singles, including 13 that entered the Top 10 and four that reached number one between 1957 and 1984. Their catalog also features 12 albums that made it into the Top 40 from 1960 through 2009.

In 1986, they were among the inaugural ten artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Neil Young presenting their induction. That same year, they revisited Shenandoah, Iowa, to participate in events benefiting the Everly Family Scholarship Fund. Their accolades extend to inductions into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, receipt of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, entry into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, and recognition by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. Their influence is also commemorated by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. On October 2, 1986, a star honoring them was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed them at No. 33 on its list of "100 greatest artists of all time." Additionally, they rank No. 43 among the UK Best selling singles artists of all time.

Tributes and interpretations by other artists

The Everly Brothers were responsible for composing several significant hits such as "Till I Kissed You" (Don), "When Will I Be Loved" (Phil), "Born Yesterday" (Don), and "Cathy's Clown" (credited to Don or both Don and Phil). The authorship rights to "Cathy's Clown" were subject to legal disputes, with the latest resolution occurring in 2021. Both "Cathy's Clown" and "When Will I Be Loved" found renewed success through covers by Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt, respectively. The Tarney/Spencer Band released their rendition of "Cathy's Clown" in 1979; Alan Tarney, a member of that group, later produced records for Cliff Richard and Norwegian band a-ha, who covered "Crying in the Rain" on their 1990 album East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

Since 1988, Central City in Kentucky has hosted an annual event called the Everly Brothers Homecoming to raise scholarship funds for students from Muhlenberg County. Throughout the 1980s up until 2005, Don and Phil toured extensively across the UK. In 2007, Phil collaborated with Vince Gill and Bill Medley. That year also marked the release of Raising Sand by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, which included a cover version of their 1964 hit "Gone, Gone, Gone," produced by T-Bone Burnett. Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers honored the duo by naming his son Everly Bear Kiedis.

In tribute to their legacy, four albums dedicated to the Everly Brothers were released in 2013: Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones’ Foreverly, the Chapin Sisters’ A Date with the Everly Brothers, Bonnie Prince Billy and Dawn McCarthy’s What the Brothers Sang, and Bird Dogs by the Wieners.

The British-Australian group Marvin, Welch & Farrar featured a song titled "Brownie Kentucky," which references Don Everly’s hometown. Additionally, Deerhunter’s track "Basement Scene" deliberately pays homage to the Everly Brothers’ classic "All I Have To Do Is Dream."

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