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The Everly Brothers
Charted: #1 in May 1960
Isaac Donald Everly was born on February 1, 1937, and his brother Philip followed on January 19, 1939. Their parents had a radio program that could be heard in several Midwestern states, and as soon as the senior Everlys' were able to discern musical abilities in their children, Donald and Phil were brought onto the program to sing country and gospel songs, in the process getting an invaluable musical education. In 1955, the brothers moved to Nashville in search of a recording contract. After a seemingly endless series of rejections, Cadence Records signed them in 1956. Their manager, Wesley Rose, was the son of the founder of the Acuff-Rose Publishing Company, so they had access to quite a few songwriters. The husband-and-wife team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant was signed to Acuff-Rose, and the Everlys recorded their song “Bye Bye Love” for their first single. Family friend Chet Atkins arranged the session and played guitar on the recording. It was an instant smash hit, reaching #2 on the pop charts, #1 on the country charts, and even #5 on the R&B charts. Their following singles for Cadence were a steady stream of hits, usually written by the Bryant team, and by the end of 1959, they had reached the Top 40 thirteen times.
In early 1960, problems and confusion arose among Cadence Records, Acuff-Rose Publishing, and the Everlys concerning artistic freedom, publishing nepotism, and the like. Based on their status as reliable hit makers, Warner Brothers offered the Everlys an unheard of ten-year contract, which they accepted in February 1960. Their first single was the self-penned “Cathy’s Clown,” with lyrics based on Don’s ex-girlfriend from high school and a chorus that was allegedly derived from Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.” Because of its intricate vocal harmonies and melodic structure, “Cathy’s Clown” was the Everlys’ most imaginative outing yet and became their all-time biggest hit, holding the #1 position for five consecutive weeks.
More hits followed, including a few Cadence releases that were previously withheld and some successful album releases. The brothers’ careers were disrupted, though, when both of them joined the Marines. Upon their release, they attempted to continue their singing, but personal problems, including divorces and drug dependencies, interfered. The resultant pressures caused Don to have a nervous breakdown while touring England in 1963.
Although they haltingly continued their musical relationship for another ten years, their familial vocal harmony belied the underlying friction and acrimony that existed between the brothers. Their frustration and bitterness came to a head in the summer of 1973 while onstage at Knott’s Berry Farm, a large California amusement park. Phil, disgusted by Don’s well-below-par performance, smashed his guitar and stalked off the stage, leaving his dazed sibling alone to deal with the crowd’s catcalls. In response to the question “Where’s Phil?”, Don replied, “The Everly Brothers died ten years ago.”
Stunned, most definitely, but not dead, no, not really. Ten years later, the Everlys' were coaxed into reconciling their differences and performing at a reunion concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was a critical and commercial success. With the assistance of Paul McCartney, the Everlys' recorded an album of new material and a companion single, “On the Wings of a Nightingale,” which displayed them at their full creative strength.
Isaac Donald Everly was born on February 1, 1937, and his brother Philip followed on January 19, 1939. Their parents had a radio program that could be heard in several Midwestern states, and as soon as the senior Everlys' were able to discern musical abilities in their children, Donald and Phil were brought onto the program to sing country and gospel songs, in the process getting an invaluable musical education. In 1955, the brothers moved to Nashville in search of a recording contract. After a seemingly endless series of rejections, Cadence Records signed them in 1956. Their manager, Wesley Rose, was the son of the founder of the Acuff-Rose Publishing Company, so they had access to quite a few songwriters. The husband-and-wife team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant was signed to Acuff-Rose, and the Everlys recorded their song “Bye Bye Love” for their first single. Family friend Chet Atkins arranged the session and played guitar on the recording. It was an instant smash hit, reaching #2 on the pop charts, #1 on the country charts, and even #5 on the R&B charts. Their following singles for Cadence were a steady stream of hits, usually written by the Bryant team, and by the end of 1959, they had reached the Top 40 thirteen times.
In early 1960, problems and confusion arose among Cadence Records, Acuff-Rose Publishing, and the Everlys concerning artistic freedom, publishing nepotism, and the like. Based on their status as reliable hit makers, Warner Brothers offered the Everlys an unheard of ten-year contract, which they accepted in February 1960. Their first single was the self-penned “Cathy’s Clown,” with lyrics based on Don’s ex-girlfriend from high school and a chorus that was allegedly derived from Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.” Because of its intricate vocal harmonies and melodic structure, “Cathy’s Clown” was the Everlys’ most imaginative outing yet and became their all-time biggest hit, holding the #1 position for five consecutive weeks.
More hits followed, including a few Cadence releases that were previously withheld and some successful album releases. The brothers’ careers were disrupted, though, when both of them joined the Marines. Upon their release, they attempted to continue their singing, but personal problems, including divorces and drug dependencies, interfered. The resultant pressures caused Don to have a nervous breakdown while touring England in 1963.
Although they haltingly continued their musical relationship for another ten years, their familial vocal harmony belied the underlying friction and acrimony that existed between the brothers. Their frustration and bitterness came to a head in the summer of 1973 while onstage at Knott’s Berry Farm, a large California amusement park. Phil, disgusted by Don’s well-below-par performance, smashed his guitar and stalked off the stage, leaving his dazed sibling alone to deal with the crowd’s catcalls. In response to the question “Where’s Phil?”, Don replied, “The Everly Brothers died ten years ago.”
Stunned, most definitely, but not dead, no, not really. Ten years later, the Everlys' were coaxed into reconciling their differences and performing at a reunion concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was a critical and commercial success. With the assistance of Paul McCartney, the Everlys' recorded an album of new material and a companion single, “On the Wings of a Nightingale,” which displayed them at their full creative strength.
 
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