Questions
Who were the Everly Brothers?
They were an American musical duo made up of brothers Don Everly (born February 1, 1937) and Phil Everly (born January 19, 1939). They combined rock and roll, country, and pop, becoming pioneers of country rock.
Where did they get their start?
They performed on radio as children with their parents in the 1940s while growing up in Shenandoah, Iowa. After the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, Chet Atkins discovered them and helped launch their career.
What was their first big hit?
Bye Bye Love in 1957 became their first million-seller and reached No. 1 on the country charts. A string of hits followed in 1958, including Wake Up Little Susie, All I Have to Do Is Dream, and Bird Dog.
What was their biggest-selling record?
Cathy’s Clown, released on Warner Bros. in 1960, sold eight million copies and became the duo’s biggest-selling record.
What chart records did they set?
They landed 35 Billboard Top 100 singles (26 in the Top 40), holding the record for the most Top 100 singles by any duo. They also charted 30 UK singles between 1957 and 1984.
What made their harmony sound so special?
Don typically sang the baritone part and Phil the tenor harmony, and their close-harmony technique built on diatonic thirds became hugely influential. Don said the brothers could read each other’s minds when they sang.
Did they really break up on stage?
Reportedly, during a July 14, 1973 show at Knott’s Berry Farm, Phil smashed his guitar and walked off. Don performed solo the next night and declared that the Everly Brothers had died 10 years earlier, beginning an estrangement that lasted over a decade.
How did they influence the Beatles?
The Beatles reportedly based the vocal arrangement of Please Please Me on Cathy’s Clown. Paul McCartney said that when he and John Lennon started writing songs, I was Phil and he was Don.
Which other famous acts did they influence?
The article lists the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel among the 1960s acts directly influenced by their sound, alongside the Beatles.
Did they ever reunite?
Yes, they reunited on September 23, 1983, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their comeback single On the Wings of a Nightingale, written by Paul McCartney, reached the top 10 on the adult contemporary charts.
Were they close with Buddy Holly?
They toured with Buddy Holly from 1957 to 1958, and Don wrote the song Wishing for him.
What awards and honors did they receive?
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of its inaugural class, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2015 Rolling Stone ranked them No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.
Did they serve in the military?
Yes, they enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, which temporarily reduced their output during that period.
When did each brother pass away?
Phil died on January 3, 2014, at age 74 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease linked to smoking. Don died on August 21, 2021, at age 84.
