Posted on 08/22/2021 4:06:10 AM PDT by 11th_VA
Don Everly, the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers and a pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, died at his home in Nashville on Saturday. He was 84.
A spokesperson for the family confirmed Everly’s death with The Times, but did not disclose a cause. A statement from the family read in part: “Don lived by what he felt in his heart. Don expressed his appreciation for the ability to live his dreams ... with his soulmate and wife, Adela, and sharing the music that made him an Everly Brother.”
Don and his younger brother Phil were in the first group to be inaugurated in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, alongside Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. Their family harmonies set them apart, as did an out-of-time gentleness: the Everly Brothers’ well-crafted songs floated between country and city and moved with the rhythms of a dream.
In a five-year span from 1957 to 1962, they had 15 top 10 hits, among them: “Bye Bye Love,” which launched them; “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” written by Boudleaux Bryant; and “Cathy’s Clown,” which was a No. 1 hit in 1960 and a No. 1 country hit for Reba McEntire in 1989.
Their harmonies influenced the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s, and a decade later their Appalachian roots inspired country rockers like Gram Parsons and Linda Ronstadt, who had a hit covering their “When Will I Be Loved” in 1972.…
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I grew up with their music and felt badly when they broke up.
I grew up where they were from in west KY. Very sad news.
The Everly brothers. Great musicians. RIP.
The Everly Brothers made some great music together.
Like many great groups, the sum was better than the parts.
RIP Don. Enjoyed your music.
Being from Eastern Ky.I never considered Western Ky as Appalachian. Although we had coal in common. My sister lives in Morgantown, beautiful area and Trump Country.
RIP.
RIP
Great concert: https://youtu.be/iTseFBze0NM
Listen to “Wake up little Suzie,” and you get an idea of how morality has changed since the 1950’s.
RIP.. I had the good fortune as a kid to be in the Ryman Auditorium in the summer of 57 when the Everly Brothers made their debut at the Grand Ole Opry.. great memory
Had a chance to see the Everly Brothers twice after the mid 80’s reunion. First show was over orchestrated with synthesizers but about a year later they played it old style with Albert Lee on guitar , a stand up bass player and a lap steel player, man it was fantastic.
Albert frequently mentions how thrilled he was to “be an Everly brother”.
I was born in 1952 and remember seeing them on TV as a kid . Always dug them . Their harmonies a big influence on The Beatles and others . R.I.P. Don . Wish I could go back to 1950’s America ...
“Wish I could go back to 1950’s America ...”
[sigh] I think many of us feel that way. I know I do.
Phil and Don are legends. Their close harmony was the blueprint for many to follow including the Beach Boys and the Beatles. They were my boyhood faves along with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, The Kingston Trio and Dion Demucci (Plus the Penguins, The Platters and a host of Doo-Wop groups).
RIP
RIP - one of my folks’ favorites, and thus became one of mine, too.
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