The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers
Name	The Everly Brothers
Caption	Don (left) and Phil Everly in 1961.
Background	duo
Origin	Brownie, Kentucky, U.S.
Genre	Rock and roll, country rock, rockabilly, country music
Years active	1951–1973, 1983–2005
Label	Cadence Records, Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts	The Crickets, Simon & Garfunkel

The Everly Brothers were an American rock and roll and country music duo, known for their distinctive close-harmony singing. Consisting of brothers Don and Phil Everly, they are considered among the most influential vocal harmony acts in popular music history. Their work in the late 1950s and early 1960s helped shape the development of rock music and inspired countless subsequent artists.

Early life and career beginnings

Born in Brownie, Kentucky, to country musicians Ike and Margaret Everly, Don (born 1937) and Phil (born 1939) were immersed in music from childhood. The family relocated to Shenandoah, Iowa, where their parents had a radio show on station KMA. After graduating high school, the brothers moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they worked as songwriters for Acuff-Rose Music. Their early recording attempts for Columbia Records were unsuccessful, but a 1957 audition for Cadence Records owner Archie Bleyer led to their first major contract.

Rise to fame and peak success

Their debut single for Cadence Records, "Bye Bye Love," became an instant international hit in 1957, reaching the top of the pop charts and establishing their signature sound. This was swiftly followed by a string of iconic hits including "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," and "Bird Dog." In 1960, they signed a lucrative 10-year contract with Warner Bros. Records, making them among the first major rock acts to join a major Hollywood film studio's record label. Their first release for the label, "Cathy's Clown," was another global number-one success.

Musical style and influence

Their music seamlessly blended the mountain harmonies of their upbringing with the emerging energy of rockabilly and rock and roll, often backed by the pioneering guitar work of Chet Atkins and others. Their intricate, intertwined vocal harmonies had a profound impact on the British Invasion bands of the 1960s, most notably The Beatles and The Hollies. Later artists like Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, and Gram Parsons cited them as a foundational influence on the development of folk rock and country rock.

Later career and legacy

Tensions led to a notorious on-stage breakup in 1973, after which both brothers pursued solo careers. They reunited for a highly publicized concert at Royal Albert Hall in 1983, leading to a successful second act touring and recording together into the 2000s. They were among the first 10 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and are also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Phil Everly died in 2014 from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Discography and notable songs

Their prolific output includes numerous studio albums for both Cadence Records and Warner Bros. Records. Key albums include *The Everly Brothers* (1958), *Songs Our Daddy Taught Us* (1958), and *Roots* (1968). Beyond their early hits, other signature songs include "('Til) I Kissed You," "When Will I Be Loved," "Let It Be Me," and "Walk Right Back." Their 1968 album *Roots* is now regarded as a seminal precursor to the Americana genre.

Personal lives and family

Don Everly was married multiple times, including to actress Venetia Stevenson, and had children. Phil Everly was married to actress Jacqueline Ertel for over 50 years and had two sons. Both brothers served briefly in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Their father, Ike Everly, was a respected figure in country music circles. Despite their professional estrangement in the 1970s, they maintained a complex but ultimately reconciled personal relationship in later decades.

Category:American country music groups Category:American rock music duos Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees