Don Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, was born on this date in 1937. 10 things you might not know about the Everly Brothers:
Don was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He was the older of the two. Phil was born 19 January 1939 in Chicago, Illinois.
Their parents were Isaac Milford 'Ike' Everly, Jr, a former coal miner who had turned guitarist, and Margaret Embry Everly. She was just 15 when she married Ike, who was 26.
The family moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where the brothers spent most of their childhood. Their father had a radio show there, on which he would sing with Margaret.
Before long, the brothers joined the line up, singing as Little Donnie and Baby Boy Phil. With their parents, they were known as The Everly Family.
Their first record was a flop. It was called Keep a-Lovin' Me. The song was written by Don. This led to them being dropped from Columbia Records.
Later, they were introduced to Archie Bleyer, who was looking for artists for Cadence Records. They signed and recorded a song called Bye Bye Love, which had been rejected by thirty other artists. It was a big hit for the Everlys and was their first million seller.
Some of their other songs include: All I Have To Do Is Dream, Wake Up Little Susie, Cathy's Clown, ('Til) I Kissed You, Crying In The Rain, Ebony Eyes and On The Wings Of A Nightingale.
Despite being brothers. They didn’t always see eye to eye. When Don released a solo album in 1971, Phil declared that it was "like cheating on a marriage". A couple of years later, they announced that the show at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California in July 1973 would be their last. Don had had a few drinks when he walked on stage, and he messed up a few songs before Phil lost his temper, smashed his guitar and stormed off, leaving Don to finish the show alone. They would not work together again for ten years.
They agreed to get back together for a reunion show at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 23, 1983. The concert was a success, and so they started recording together again.
The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel were all influenced in their early days by the Everly Brothers. The Beatles even referred to themselves as "the British Everly Brothers".
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