Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers' teen hits brought into rock-'n' roll a tradition of close-harmony singing which stretched back through Appalachian country duos like the Louvin Brothers to centuries of Scottish and Irish folk music. It was essentially from this that their sharply observed - though sometimes maudlin -vignettes of girl or parent trouble gained their emotional whack. The Everly Brothers were one of the top acts in rock-and-roll history and, perhaps, are more responsible than anyone for moving country songs onto the pop charts.

Everly family 1952
Photo courtesy Heide Ploen Collection

Ike Everly and to a lesser extent, his wife Margaret, were well-known in the South and the Midwest as folk and country music performers. Ike decided early in life to be a musician. Ike with his brothers Charlie and Leonard would have the most popular group in Muhlenberg county. Ike's guitar playing was influenced by Merle Travis, Sam McGee and other country music artists earlier in the Twentieth Century.

It seems that the brothers  had composed an instrumental combining bluegrass and ragtime called "That's The Mood I'm In."  Due to their lack of knowledge of the business side of music, they never copyright it.  Later it was altered a bit and became a hit for Glenn Miller as "In The Mood" under another writers name. The brothers played everywhere and eventually ended up in Chicago for four years before they broke up. From Chicago Everlys moved to Iowa for seven years.

Isaac Donald Everly was born in Brownie, Kentucky in 1937 and his brother Philip was born in Chicago two years later. The Don and Phil were taught guitar at an early age and began singing with their parents at ages eight and six respectively, a practice that they continued through high school.

By 1945 they had moved to Shenandoah where Ike was appearing three times a day on a local radio station. Eventually, Margaret and the boys would join him over time. By 1950 The Everly Family Show was the most popular in the region. Eventually they moved from Shenandoah to Evansville, Indiana. As the demand for live radio performers declined they took to the road once again traveling from town to town singing at county fairs, political meetings and revivals.

Photo courtesy Don Wayne Collection

Finally they settled in Knoxville where they appeared on radio from 1953 to 1955. Ike knew Chet Atkins who was becoming a success in Nashville as a session guitarist and recording star for RCA Victor. When he was introduced to Phil and Don Atkins liked what he saw and through his contacts Atkins got the brothers a six month contract with Columbia Records.

They only had one recording session with Columbia in November, 1955. Four songs were recorded but, only "The Sun Keeps Shining" b\w "Keep A' Lovin' Me" were released. There was really nothing there to set it apart from other singers from Appalachia.  Only the vocals showed any promise. The little airplay that the records received was from deejays that knew the family.

Lack of success was nothing new to the Everlys. Don was asked to be a songwriter with Hill and Range, a major Nashville Publishing house. They continued to sing. Don switched to Acuff-Rose publishing. Here he wrote "Thou Shalt Not Steal" for Kitty Wells. His first royalty check was for $600

Wesley Rose was aware that Archie Bleyer was looking for country talent and signed Phil and Don to Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in 1957. Their first Cadence session was in March, 1957 and overseen by old family friend Chet Atkins. 

The first song that they recorded  "Bye Bye Love" had been written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, a middle-aged husband and wife songwriting team who had an unerring ability to catch the angst and self-absorption of the average teen.

"Bye Bye Love", had already been rejected by thirty other acts. This time the boys and their musical mentor, Chet Atkins had something new to add. The new Everlys sound kept the high, keening harmonies, but backed them with robust acoustic guitars and a rock 'n' roll beat that owed something to Bo Diddley.

At the time country music was in a bit of decline as rock-and-roll music, led by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and others was becoming increasingly popular. The Everly Brothers' recording of "Bye Bye Love" rejuvenated the music business in Nashville, and it established Don and Phil Everly as legendary performers.

Cadence label and suddenly had their first big hit with "Bye Bye Love," which reached number one on the country charts and crossed over to reach number two on the pop charts. For many acts the second release is more important then the first.a million-seller. The first time they have the advantage of being fresh and different. The second time can upset listeners by being to close to the original or being to different.

Their next song "Wake Up Little Susie" came right in between. The opening guitar was more thrilling and the vocals more urgent. The song by the Bryant's was on the risqué side dealing with a teenage couple that had fallen asleep at a drive-in movie and got caught sneaking home.

From 1957 to 1959, they had six top ten songs on the country charts and seven top ten's on the pop charts. Many of these recordings were written by the Bryants, whose country-flavored compositions helped to add a new dimension to rock-and-roll. Three songs that were written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and recorded by the Everly Brothers reached number one on the pop charts: "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," and "Bird Dog". "Cathy's Clown" was their fourth and final number one pop hit in 1960.

The Everly Brothers left Cadence in 1960 over a royalty dispute and signed with Warners for a million-dollar, ten-year contract. Although this meant that they lost their production team and the Bryants' songwriting, everything went well at first. Don's "Cathy's Clown" was their biggest-selling single, and Phil's "When Will I Be Loved", "Walk Right Back", and "Ebony Eyes" all did well. 

It was reported by 1961, that Don was addicted to Ritalin, at that time considered to be a vitamin laced version of methamphetamine. With his behavior becoming increasingly erratic it was reported Don attempted suicide. In an attempt to break the habit he underwent Electro-shock therapy.

Enlisting in the Marines 1961
Photo courtesy Heidi Ploen Collection

With the likelihood of being drafted for two years in the Army, on November 21, 1961, both Everlys joined the Marine Corp Reserves for six months. While in the Corps during the first half of 1962, they had a Top Ten hit with "Crying In the Rain," but their military commitment restricted them from capitalizing with club dates and tours.

Ed Sullivan Show 1962
Photo courtesy Heidi Ploen Collection

On February 13, 1962, Don in his Marine dress uniform married movie starlet, Venetia Stevenson, in the chapel at Camp Pendleton, California. Five days later while still honeymooning in New York City, the boys made an appearance on CBS-TV's The Ed Sullivan Show in their dress uniforms. Don and Phil were released from the Marines on May 24, 1962. Three weeks earlier Warner Brothers issued "That's Old Fashion (That's the Way Love Should Be)" which became their second Top Ten single in a row. It was also their last.

Their career began to slow down in 1962 after a six-month stint in the Marines. That November while in Britain rehearsing for a tour Don collapsed on stage and Phil had to finish the tour alone. By the time of the onslaught of the British Invasion in 1964 their career had pretty much run their course.

The Everly Brothers continued on in the entertainment business. They had a summer television series on CBS. However, Don and Phil were both having personal problems. The unrelenting performance schedule led to an addiction to speed for both. Don had a nervous breakdown.

Last show Knott's Berry Farm 4/14/1973
Photo courtesy Jay Berman Collection

Disagreements through the late 60s and early 70s; climaxed in July 14,1973, midway through a concert in  Knots Berry Farms in Los Angeles. In the middle of the second of three scheduled shows, the manager came on the stage and stopped the show.  He told the audience that he was upset with Don's sloppy performance.  Phil smashed his guitar, stormed off, and Don announced that The Everly Brothers had split. According to Don, the Everly Brothers "died ten years ago." Ten years of solo career doldrums followed.

Royal Albert Hall reunion concert
Photo courtesy Jay Berman Collection

On September 23,1983, the Everly Brothers made peace with each other and reunited as a singing duo at the Royal Albert Hall in England. They recorded some albums together in the 80's that made it to the best seller charts. They retained their popularity in England. In 1990, Don's daughter Erin was married briefly to Axl Rose of the rock group Guns N' Roses.

The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1986