The Everly Brothers are one of the top acts in rock'n'roll history and are probably are as responsible as anyone for the emergence of country songs onto the pop charts. Their parents, Ike and Margaret were folk and country performers. Don was born in Brownie, Kentucky in 1937 while Phil was born in Chicago in 1939. At ages 8 and 6 the boys began singing with their parents. Both learned to play guitar and joined their parents on their radio show in Iowa in the mid 40's. Don and Phil struck out on their own in the 50's when their parents retired.

They went to Nashville in 1955 (invited by Chet Atkins) where they began to write songs for Acuff-Rose. They signed a recording contract in 1957 with the Cadence label. They recorded "Bye Bye Love" which was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and had their first big hit. It reached No 1 in the country charts, No 2 in the pop charts and was also a hit in Britain. Between 1957 and 1959 they had top ten hits in both the country and pop charts. Three of the Bryant penned songs, "Wake Up Little Susie", " All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Bird Dog" gave the Everlys No 1's in the pop charts. After a dispute over royalties with Cadence the Everlys switched over to the Warner Brothers label and had their final No 1 pop hit with " Cathy's Clown" in 1960. Other hits in the 60's included, " Let It Be Me ", " Ebony Eyes " and " Crying In The Rain ".

The Everly Brothers continued entertaining and had a television series on CBS and kept up their unrelenting schedule. Don had a nervous breakdown. They were feuding with each other and in the summer of 1973 they had violent bust up on stage which resulted in Phil smashing his guitar to pieces and walking out. During the 70's Don wrote more songs and both of them made solo albums with scant success. It is said that the only contact they had with each other in ten years was when their father died.

Rumours of a reunion became a reality when in June 1983 they embraced and made up. Their emotional reunion was made to a wet-eyed audience in London's Royal Albert Hall.

In 1986 the Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame and have toured regularly since. They have never spoken publicly about their split.

The Everly Brothers set the standard for close harmony singing and in my opinion it has never been bettered.