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The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers during one of their last concerts
Background information
Genre(s)	Country, Rockabilly
Years active	1957 - 1973, 1983 - present

The Everly Brothers, (Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1, 1937, Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Phil Everly, born Phillip Everly, January 19, 1939, Chicago, Illinois) are male siblings who were top-selling country-influenced rock and roll performers, best known for their steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing. Their greatest period of chart success came between 1957 and 1964.

Contents 1 Style 2 Early career 3 The Break-Up of the Everly Brothers 4 Legacy 5 Discography - Albums 6 Discography - Singles 7 See also 8 Footnotes 9 External links

The brothers were both competent guitarists, and used a simple style of harmony mostly based on parallel thirds. With this approach, each line can often stand on its own as a plausible melody line. This is in contrast to classic harmony lines which, while working well alongside the melody, would sound strange if heard by themselves. One of the best examples of their close-harmony work is their recording of "Devoted to You".

The duo's approach to harmony singing had a strong influence on the rock and roll groups of the 1960s. For example, both The Beatles^[1] and The Beach Boys^[2] developed their early singing style by performing Everlys covers. The Beatles based the vocal arrangement of their song "Please Please Me" directly upon that of "Cathy's Clown."^[3]

Guitarist Ike Everly had an Iowa radio show in the 1940s. Singing appearances on their father's show gave the brothers their first exposure. The Everly Brothers recorded their own first single, "Keep A' Lovin' Me," in 1956, under the aegis of Chet Atkins, but it flopped. However their next single, "Bye Bye Love," (which had been rejected by 30 other acts, including Elvis Presley), became an across-the-board smash, reaching #2 on the pop charts (behind Presley's Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear), while hitting #1 on both the Country and the R & B charts. The song, written by the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, became the Everly Brothers' first million-seller.

They soon became known as the stalwarts of Archie Bleyer's Cadence Records label. Working with the Bryants, the harmonic duo had a number of hits in the U.S. and the UK, the biggest of which were "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," and "Bird Dog."

Signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1960, they continued to have hits. Their first with WB, 1960's "Cathy's Clown," launched the brothers back to the top of the charts. It was released as number WB1, the first release in the United Kingdom by Warner Brothers Records. Other singles followed, such as "When Will I Be Loved" (1960), "Walk Right Back" (1961), and "Crying In The Rain" (1962). Their last Top Ten hit was 1962's "That's Old Fashioned"; the succeeding years saw the Everly Brothers selling many fewer records than before. Their enlistment in the United States Marine Corps in 1963, to meet military obligations, took them out of the spotlight immediately before The Beatles broke loose in the United States and changed the pop music landscape.

In 1962, Warner Brothers released a "Golden Hits" album in 1962, which included only their Warner Brothers hits. The 1964 album "The Very Best Of The Everly Brothers" included new versions of six of their Cadence hits (re-recorded in Nashville), along with six of the original Warner Brothers hits. Some of these re-recordings are sometimes played and mistaken for the originals, such as "Devoted to You" and "Til I Kissed You." In 1963, Cadence released a more complete album of those original hits, titled "15 Everly Hits."

After their Marine Corps experience the brothers resumed their career, but American chart success was waning. Singles and albums continued to be released, but only two of these made the lower reaches of the Top 40, in 1964, and 1967. The Everlys had somewhat more success in Britain and Canada in that period. Some fans find their mid-60s music to be their most impressive, with the songs "The Price of Love" and "Love Is Strange" being good examples. The album title "In Our Image" referred to their influence on a new era of singers like the Beatles, who were inspired by their harmony. The album "Two Yanks in England" was recorded there with backup by The Hollies and future members of Led Zeppelin, and is a reflection of their success there, and a gesture of camaraderie with the new wave. The album "Roots" is touted by some formal critics as superior, but from a music fan's standpoint it was not special. Their contract with Warner Bros lapsed after its ten years. In 1970, they were the summer replacement hosts for Johnny Cash's television show.

The duo had a memorable split in 1973, as Phil Everly broke his guitar and stormed offstage during a concert at Knotts Berry Farm, leaving brother Don to finish the concert by himself. Don Everly told the crowd, "The Everly Brothers died ten years ago."

The brothers reformed in 1983 with a new album produced by Dave Edmunds. "On the Wings of a Nightingale", written by Paul McCartney for the brothers, was a minor success and returned them to the charts in both the U.S. and UK. Their 1983 Reunion Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was instigated by English virtuoso guitarist Albert Lee (who was also the musical director), resulted in both a well-received CD and video. They then earned a final charting country-music hit with "Born Yesterday" in 1986 from the album with the same name.

At around the same time, Phil enjoyed some success as a soloist, with an album Phil Everly, recorded mainly in London, and including musicians such as Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, Rockpile drummer Terry Williams, and evergreen session keyboard player Pete Wingfield. "She Means Nothing To Me", featuring Cliff Richard as co-lead vocalist, was a Top 10 hit in the UK, and "Louise" reached the Top 50 in 1983. In 1994, a new recording of "All I Have to Do Is Dream," featuring Cliff Richard and Phil sharing vocals, was a UK Top 20 hit.

Even though the brothers have not produced any new studio albums since 1989's "Some Hearts," they continue to tour and perform. Throughout their careers they have collaborated extensively with other performers, usually singing either backup vocals or duets. For example, Don Everly recorded a duet with Emmylou Harris in 1979, "Everytime You Leave", on her album "Blue Kentucky Girl"^[4] In 2006, Phil Everly sang a duet, "Sweet Little Corrina", with country singer Vince Gill on his much acclaimed album These Days.^[5] He previously supplied harmony vocals on J.D. Souther's "White Rhythm and Blues" on his 1979 album "You're Only Lonely".

The Everly Brothers have had a total of 26 Billboard Top 40 singles. In 1986, they were among the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the induction ceremony, they were introduced by Neil Young, who observed that every musical group he ever belonged to had tried and failed to copy the Everly Brothers' harmonies.

In 1997, they were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.^[6] Their pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. The Everly Brothers have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked The Everly Brothers^[7] #33 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time ^[8]. They are also #43 on the list of UK Best selling singles artists of all time.

They were also accomplished songwriters, penning a number of their own hits, including "Till I Kissed You" (Don), "Cathy's Clown" (Don and Phil), and "When Will I Be Loved" (Phil). "Cathy's Clown" and "When Will I Be Loved" later became hits for Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt, respectively; (for the latter, the Everly Brothers even sang the back up chorus). Also, the Norwegian band a-ha covered "Crying In The Rain" in 1990 for their fourth album, East of The Sun, West of The Moon.

The Bee Gees have acknowledged the Everly Brothers on several occasions stating that they would sing in the style of the Everlys and then add a third harmony. This is evident on the Bee Gees' first hit, New York Mining Disaster 1941 in 1967.

They still perform occasionally, despite having declared their retirement from both touring and the studio more than once. Most notably, they joined Simon and Garfunkel as the featured act in the Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour of 2003 and 2004. As a special tribute to the Everly Brothers, they were not the opening act, rather Simon and Garfunkel opened their own show and had the Everlys come out in the middle for three or four songs. For Paul Simon, it was not the first time he had performed prominently with his heroes. In 1986, The Everlys sang background vocals on the hit title track of Simon's landmark album Graceland, the song he has named as his single greatest composition.

On Labor Day Weekend 1988, Central City Kentucky began hosting The Everly Brothers Homecoming event to raise money for a scholarship fund for Muhlenberg County students.[4] The Homecoming became a popular annual event for fourteen years, before ending in 2002. Don and Phil successfully toured the UK in 2005 and Phil has appeared in 2007 on Recordings with Vince Gill and Bill Medley. Rumours are also around that the "Everly Family" are currently putting together an Album.

• The Everly Brothers (1958)
• Songs Our Daddy Taught Us (1959)
• The Everly Brothers' Best (1959)
• It's Everly Time (1960)
• Rockin' With (Mini EP) (1960)
• The Fabulous Style of The Everly Brothers (1960)
• A Date with The Everly Brothers (1961)
• Both Sides of an Evening (1961)
• Souvenir Sampler (1961)
• Christmas with The Everly Brothers (1962)
• Instant Party! (1962)
• The Everly Brothers' Golden Hits (Warner 1471 -- 1962)
• Folk Songs of The Everly Brothers (1962 Cadence)
• Great Country Hits (1963 WB)
• 15 Everly Hits (1963 Cadence)
• Very Best of the Everly Brothers (Warner 1554 -- 1964)
• Rock N' Soul (1965)
• Gone, Gone, Gone (1965)
• Beat N' Soul (1965)
• In Our Image (1966)
• Two Yanks in England (1966)
• The Hit Sound of The Everly Brothers (1967)
• The Everly Brothers Sing (1967)
• Roots (1968)
• Wake up Little Susie (Harmony) (1969)
• Chained to a Memory (1970)
• Everly Brothers Show (1970)
• Stories We Could Tell (1972)
• Don't Worry Baby (1973)
• Pass the Chicken and Listen (1973)
• Everlys (1975)
• New Album (1977)
• Living Legends (1977)
• Greatest Hits Vol. III (1977)
• The Everly Brothers (Profile) (1981)
• EB 84 (1984)
• Home Again (1985)
• All They Had to Do Was Dream (1985)
• Born Yesterday (1986)
• The Everly Brothers (Bella Musica) (1988)
• Some Hearts (1989)
• Heartaches and Harmonies (1994)
• Too Good to Be True (2005)
• Give Me A Future (2005)

Charted hits in the U.S. (Billboard) and UK, and notable singles

Song title	U.S.	UK	Year	Label	Note
Keep A-Lovin' Me/The Sun Keeps Shining	999	999	1956	Columbia	First and second songs the brothers recorded together.
Bye Bye Love	02	06	1957	Cadence	U.S.: Gold, C&W #1
Wake Up Little Susie	01	02	1957	Cadence	U.S.: Gold, C&W/R&B #1
All I Have to Do Is Dream	01	01	1958	Cadence	U.S.: Gold, C&W/R&B #1
Love Of My Life	40	999	1958	Cadence	zz
Claudette	30	01	1958	Cadence	zz
Bird Dog	01	02	1958	Cadence	U.S.: Gold, C&W #1
Devoted to You	10	999	1958	Cadence	zz
Problems	02	06	1958	Cadence	zz
Take a Message To Mary	16	20	1959	Cadence	zz
Poor Jenny	22	14	1959	Cadence	zz
Til I Kissed You	04	02	1959	Cadence	zz
Let It Be Me	07	13	1960	Cadence	zz
Since You Broke My Heart	06	04	1960	Cadence
Cathy's Clown	01	01	1960	Warner Brothers	U.S.: Gold, R&B #1
When Will I Be Loved	08	04	1960	Cadence	zz
Lucille	21	04	1960	Warner Brothers	zz
So Sad	07	04	1960	Warner Brothers	zz
Like Strangers	22	11	1960	Cadence	zz
Walk Right Back	07	01	1961	Warner Brothers	zz
Ebony Eyes	08	01	1961	Warner Brothers	zz
Temptation	27	01	1961	Warner Brothers	zz
Muskrat	82	20	1961	Warner Brothers	zz
Don't Blame Me	20	20	1961	Warner Brothers	zz
Crying In the Rain	06	06	1962	Warner Brothers	zz
That's Old Fashioned	09	999	1962	Warner Brothers	zz
How Can I Meet Her	75	12	1962	Warner Brothers	zz
No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile	999	11	1962	Warner Brothers	zz
So It Always Will Be	999	23	1963	Warner Brothers	zz
It's Been Nice	999	26	1963	Warner Brothers	zz
This Little Girl Of Mine	26	999	1964	Warner Brothers	zz
The Girl Sang the Blues	999	25	1964	Warner Brothers	zz
The Ferris Wheel	72	22	1964	Warner Brothers	zz
Gone Gone Gone	31	36	1964	Warner Brothers	zz
That'll Be the Day	999	30	1965	Warner Brothers	zz
The Price of Love	999	02	1965	Warner Brothers	zz
I'll Never Get Over You	999	35	1965	Warner Brothers	zz
Love Is Strange	999	11	1965	Warner Brothers	zz
Bowling Green	40	999	1967	Warner Brothers	zz
It's My Time	999	39	1968	Warner Brothers	zz
On the Wings Of a Nightingale	050	041	1984	Mercury	U.S.: #9 on the AC chart. Written by Paul McCartney.

• Gibson Everly Brothers Flattop

• The Everly Brothers Official UK Discography with Lyrics & UK Charts info
• the everly brothers guitar tabs
• Everlys in the mid-60s article