The Everly Brothers, the #64 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"The Everly Brothers, the dynamic duo in perfect harmony."

"No duo or group will ever have the harmony these two Kentucky brothers had. Smooth and amazing singers. Some of my favorites song forever."

"Pure harmony."

"The two brothers were the greatest."

"Some of the greatest harmonies of all-time. The incredible Everly Brothers."

"Timeless songs--magic!"

"The Everly Brothers were incomparable."

"Beautiful and timeless."

"Phils' tenor with Dons' voice is music made in Heaven."

"This was music, real music."

"The Everly brothers are two of the greatest romantic singers in the world of love music."

"Sublime. Incomparable."

"They are immortals."

This pair of brothers set the standard for pop duos and their vocal harmonies have influenced hundreds of artists in the 60 years since.

Don Everly was born in Brownie, Kentucky in 1937 while Phil was born in Chicago, Illinois.  The brothers grew up in Shenadoah, Iowa and performed on their father Ike's radio show on KMA and KFNF in Shenandoah in the mid-1940's.  

In 1953, the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, with Don graduating from West High School.  While there, the brothers attracted the attention of family friend Chet Atkins, who was then manager of RCA Victor's studio in Nashville.  The brothers moved to Nashville in 1955, with Phil graduating from Peabody Demonstration School.  

Atkins arranged for the Everly Brothers to earn a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1956.  But a single, "Keep-a-Lovin' Me" flopped, and they were dropped from the label.

                            Phil Everly, Wesley Rose, Boudleaux Bryant and Don Everly

Atkins then introduced the brothers to Wesley Rose, co-owner of Acuff-Rose music publishers.  Rose told the duo he would get them a recording deal if they signed with his company as songwriters.  Don and Phil signed with Rose in 1956 and shortly thereafter, Rose introduced the Everly Brothers to Archie Bleyer of Cadence Records.  Felice and Boudleaux Bryant of Acuff-Rose wrote many of their early hits.   

 

The duo signed with Cadence and released "Bye Bye Love".  It reached #2 for four weeks to become one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*, and also hit #1 Country and #5 on the R&B chart in the U.S., #2 in Canada and #6 in the U.K.

 

The follow-up "Wake Up Little Susie" became a smash--#1 for four weeks in the United States and Canada, #2 in the U.K. and #3 in Australia.  Like it's predecessor, it sold over one million copies.

The Everly Brothers toured with Buddy Holly in 1957 and 1958.  They released their self-titled album in 1958.  "All I Have To Do Is Dream" vaulted to #1, where it stayed for five weeks in the United States, also #1 in the U.K. and Canada and #3 in Australia.  It also sold over one million singles.

"Wake Up Little Susie" and "All I Have To Do Is Dream" are two of the biggest back-to-back releases for any artist of the Rock Era. "Bird Dog" topped charts in the United States, Canada and Australia and reached #2 in the U.K.  It became the duo's fourth single to be certified Gold.

 

The Everlys reached #10 with "Devoted To You, the flip side of "Bird Dog".

"Problems" stopped just shy of #1 at #2.

 

The duo released the album The Fabulous Style of the Everly Brothers, and their second single from the album, "('Till) I Kissed You", went to #4.  The Crickets, Buddy Holly's group, backed up the Everlys on this one.

 

The duo pulled another hit off the album with "Let It Be Me", #7 in the U.S. and #8 in Canada.

Join us for Part Two Tomorrow!