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4 Jan 2014

Phil Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, dies aged 74

As tributes pour in for Phil Everly, who produced some of the biggest hits of the 1950s and early 1960s with his brother Don, Channel 4 News looks back at some of their best-loved hits.

Phil (left) and Don Everly, the American duo the Everly Brothers on stage in 1962 (G)

The death of Phil Everly (pictured left) was announced in the early hours of Saturday by his wife, Patti, who said that he had suffered complications from lung disease. “We are absolutely heartbroken,” she told the LA Times, blaming his illness on a lifetime of cigarette smoking.

From Wake up Little Susie to Bye Bye Love, the dulcet harmonies of America’s Everly Brothers were the soundtrack to an era that foreshadowed the breakthrough pop and rock acts of the 1960s. Phil, the younger brother, took on the higher part of the close harmonies with his older brother Don, and their voices glided above country-tinged chords and an upbeat poppy style.

Their music influenced a range of rock, country and folk singers in the US and the UK who went on to gain huge success including the Beatles – who used to call themselves the “foreverly brothers” in their early days – Simon and Garfunkel and the Byrds.

Rolling Stone magazine placed the duo at number 33 on its list of the 100 greatest artists in 1986, saying: “perhaps even more powerfully than Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers melded country with the emerging sound of Fifties rock & roll.”

Bob Dylan was also a fan, saying: “We owe these guys everything. They started it all”, according to Time magazine. Queen guitarist Brian May also cited the duo as an influence, and paid tribute to Phil, saying that he had lost “a huge piece” of his youth and describing the brothers as “heroes”.

Bye Bye Love

Video: Julius LaRosa introduces the Everly Brothers via network television before a live audience, before a performance of Bye Bye Love on 22 June 1957 (Concordbeltcreation2)

The brothers’ breakthrough hit, Bye Bye Love, was released in 1957 and rose to number 2 in the US charts. It was their first million-seller and the first of numerous Everly tunes written by Boudleaux Bryant and his wife Felice.

Wake Up Little Susie, which was also released in 1957, was their first number 1 hit. A song about two teenagers falling asleep at the drive-in theatre and waking up long after curfew, it was banned in Boston for its lyrics, which were considered suggestive at the time.

‘Harmony is the ultimate love’

Phillip Everly was born on 19 January, 1939, in Chicago, two years after his brother Don, to two country musicians, Ike and Margaret Everly. With Ike Everly on guitar, the family was a traveling act and brothers Phil and Don were used to singing together from an early age.

Legendary Nashville guitarist Chet Atkins was one of their earliest supporters. “One thing that impressed me when I met those kids was that they were so intelligent,” he said on the Everly family fan site. “Don and Phil used proper English and I just thought they were a cut above … intellectually and education-wise.”

Although they were most influential in the 1950s and early 1960s, the brothers’ career spanned five decades. But it wasn’t always an easy relationship.

The pair had an onstage breakup in 1973 that led to a decade-long estrangement, but Phil later told Time magazine they were still close.

“Don and I are infamous for our split,” Phil said, “but we’re closer than most brothers. Harmony singing requires that you enlarge yourself, not use any kind of suppression. Harmony is the ultimate love.”

Cathy’s Clown

Video: The Everly Brothers perform Cathy’s Clown on the Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show on 9 July, 1960 (NRRArchives)

In 1960 the brothers signed with a new record label, Warner Brothers, agreeing to a 10-year, $1m contract and making their debut with their own song, Cathy’s Clown, but by then their career was in decline.

(‘Til) I Kissed You

Video: The Everly Brothers perform (‘Til) I Kissed You on the Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show, on 23 January, 1960 (NRRArchives)

One of the Everly Brothers’ most loved songs, (‘Til) I Kissed You was released in 1959 and was reportedly inspired by a girl that Don met on tour in Australia.

Your favourite Everyly Brothers songs: