Don Everly

Don Everly (February 1, 1937—August 21, 2021) was an American musician—one half of the rock n' roll duo The Everly Brothers with his younger brother Phil Everly (January 19, 1939–January 3, 2014). 

Everly Brothers are known for introducing into rock n' roll a tradition of close-harmony singing that stretched back through Appalachian country duos like the Louvin Brothers (Ira Louvin and Charlie Louvin) to centuries of Scottish and Irish folk music.

The duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Early life

Don Everly was born Isaac Donald Everly on February 1, 1937, in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to a traveling country-and-western team Ike Everly (1908-1975) and Margaret Everly (1919-1975). Ike's sister was the mother of actor James Best (July 26, 1926–April 6, 2015).

Don's father and uncles (Leonard and Charlie) worked in coal mining and played guitar in their spare time. They couldn't read the music, but they played by ear and were well-known in the South and the Midwest as folk and country music performers. Ike was influenced by the music of Sam McGee, Merle Travis, and other country music artists earlier in the Twentieth Century.

By 1945, the family had moved to Shenandoah, Virginia, where Ike was appearing three times a day on a local radio station. Eventually, Margaret and Don and Phil would join him over time. 

Don learned to sing and play guitar and made his radio debut when he was just eight years old, with his younger brother Phil, who was only 6. His radio debut was under the name "Little Donnie" for a radio show in Iowa. 

By 1950, The Everly Family Show was one of the most popular radio shows in the region.

Eventually, the family moved from Shenandoah to Evansville, Indiana, and finally settled in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Career

Growing up in a musical family, Don got his start in music at a young age, performing with his family on the road and on the radio. The two brothers also traveled with their family to their radio jobs in various cities in the South and the Midwest.

Influenced by their family's music, the Everly Brothers in their early years came up with a bluegrass and ragtime fusion instrumental titled, "That's The Mood I'm In." However, they were never able to copyright it due to their lack of awareness of the music business. Later, an altered version of the composition "In The Mood" by American bandleader Glenn Miller became a popular big band-era jazz standard.

In Knoxville, Tennessee, famed American guitarist and record producer Chet Atkins was a friend of their father and helped the brothers launch their musical careers while they were still in their teens. Atkins, through his contacts, got the brothers a six-month contract with Columbia Records. 

In 1955, the brothers made a failed recording debut with four unsuccessful songs for Columbia Records. With the help of Atkins, they then became songwriters for Acuff-Rose Publications. Working with Acuff-Rose, Don, at the age of 17, wrote a song "Thou Shalt Not Steal" for country musician Kitty Wells. His first royalty check was for $600.

Acuff-Rose's record executive Wesley Rose arranged for the brothers to get a contract with Cadence Records (owned by music acquaintance Archie Bleyer). The brothers stared as country musicians first and then became rock & roll stars beginning in 1957. 

The first song that they recorded "Bye Bye Love" was written by a middle-aged husband and wife songwriting pair of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. The Everly Brothers' recording of "Bye Bye Love" revived the music business in Nashville and established them as noteworthy music players in the area. The song was part of their eponymous debut album, released in December 1957. Atkins played the lead guitar on and Buddy Harman was the drummer. It peaked at #16 on the US charts and is ranked 210th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The song has also been covered by Paul McCartney, Rory Storm, George Harrison, and Simon & Garfunkel (Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel). 

The following December, they released their second album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. In the years 1957–1959, the duo had eight million-selling singles, including Don's song "('Til) I Kissed You." In 1960, the brothers became the first artists to be offered a million-dollar recording contract with Warner Brothers Records. Don's song "Cathy's Clown" became their first hit for the company. With three million copies sold, it was also the biggest-selling record of their career.

First solo album

In 1970, Don released his first self-titled solo album via Ode Records.

The Everly Brothers break-up and other solo work

On stage and in public, the brothers had perfect chemistry evident by their success in the 1960s; however, things were different behind the scenes. Don struggled with substance-abuse problems for years. The ongoing conflict between the two was also becoming unmanageable and it compelled Phil to make an abrupt exit from the stage at a California concert in 1973, marking a permanent split (at least for the next decade.)

After the break-up, Don continued with his solo career, which he had already begun with the release of his self-titled album in 1970. In August 1974, he released his second album titled Sunset Towers, also via Ode Records. In March 1977, he released his third and final album Brother Jukebox (country) with Hickory Records.

Phil also pursued a solo career and released five albums: Star Spangled Springer(June 1973), Phil's Diner (December 1974), Mystic Line (October 1975), Living Alone (August 1979), and Phil Everly (April 1983)

Reunion

After working solo in much of the 1970s, the brothers reunited in 1983 for a concert in London. Shortly after, the brothers recorded a new album together, EB 84. The album carried a song by Paul McCartney, "On the Wings of a Nightingale." In 1989, they released another album, Some Hearts.

Phil died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on January 3, 2014. Don released a statement:

I always thought I'd be the one to go first... The world might be mourning an Everly Brother, but I'm mourning my brother Phil.

Honors

• In 1986, The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by American-Canadian music legend Neil Young.
• In 1997, they were given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• In 2001, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• In 2019, Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, earning the organization's first Iconic Riff Award for his distinctive rhythm guitar intro to their 1957 hit "Wake Up Little Susie".

Covers

Almost all of Don's best-known compositions (as lyricist) have been covered by many well-known country musicians.

• So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad), which was initially released by The Everly Brothers in 1960 has been covered by:
  • Brian Hyland in 1969
  • Dillard & Clark (Gene Clark and Doug Dillard) in 1969
  • Hank Williams Jr. and Lois Johnson in 1970
  • Connie Smith in 1976
  • Steve Wariner in 1978
  • Jeff Lynne in 2012
• I Wonder If I Care as Much - originally released in 1958 has been covered by:
  • Jimmy London in 1973
  • Dickey Lee in 1981
  • Ricky Skaggs in 1986
  • Teddy Thompson in 2000
  • Tracy Nelson in 2007
  • Neil Young in 2014
• ('Til) I Kissed You - originally released in 1959 has been covered by:
  • Jimmy London in 1975
  • Connie Smith in 1976
• Cathy's Clown - originally recorded in 1960 has been covered by:
  • New Zealand pop music duo "Bill and Boyd" in 1960
  • Neil Sedaka in 1983
  • Reba McEntire in 1989

Personal life

Don was married four times. He was first married to Mary Sue Ingraham from 25 March 1957 until the divorce on 22 May 1961. They had a daughter, Venetia Everly.

He was then married to British-American actress Venetia Stevenson from 13 February 1962 until their divorce in 1970. They had three children: daughter Erin Elvery (ex-wife of Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose), son Edan Everly (a musician), and daughter Stacy Everly (actress/film-crew member). Edan and Don have also performed together.

Don was then married to his third wife Karen Prettyman from 5 May 1975 to the divorce on 8 March 1983. He is currently married to his fourth wife Adela Garza since 22 March 1997.

Death

Don Everly died in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 21, 2021, at age 84.