The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers, Don (born 1^st February 1937)and Phil (born 19^th January 1939) were professionals way before their teens, schooled by their accomplished guitarist father Ike. The boys began singing with their parents at the ages of eight and six respectively, a practice that they continued through high school. By the mid-Forties, Ike and Margaret had a radio show in Iowa and were joined on it by their sons. The boys both learned to play the guitar. When their parents retired in the Fifties, Don and Phil struck out on their own.

The Everly Brothers signed a recording contract with the Cadence label in 1957. They recorded a song that had been written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant on the Cadence label and suddenly had their first big hit with Bye Bye Love. The song reached number one on the country charts and crossed over to reach number two on the pop charts, in addition to being a hit in England. At the time, country music was in a bit of decline as rock 'n' roll music was becoming increasingly popular.

Their recording rejuvenated the music business in Nashville, and it established Don and Phil Everly as legendary performers. From 1957 to 1959, they had six Top Ten songs on the country charts and seven Top Tens on the pop charts. The Bryants, whose country-flavored compositions helped to add a new dimension to rock 'n' roll, wrote many of their recordings. Three songs written by the Bryants and recorded by the Everly Brothers reached number one on the pop charts - Wake Up Little Susie, All Have To Do Is Dream and Bird Dog.

By the early Sixties, the Everlys had become involved in a dispute over royalties with Cadence so they switched over to the Warner Brothers label. They had their fourth and final number one pop hit with the song Cathy's Clown in 1960. They had their last US hit in June 1962, but remained major stars in the UK. By then, the brothers personal lives had gone through some serious upheavals, and both were addicted to speed for a while. Their career started to  falter following conscripted service in the marines and Don's subsequent nervous breakdown during a 1963 British tour.

By the time of the onslaught of the British Invasion in 1964 they had pretty much run their course, and after that they only reached the Top Forty one more time in 1965. Don and Phil were both experiencing personal problems, constantly fighting with each other and this culminated in a violet breakup in 1973. In September 1983, they made peace with each other and reunited as a singing duo.

The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.