Don Everly

Overview

Submitted by guitar-list on Fri, 2014-02-21 08:12

musical style:

photograph of Don Everly

Don Everly (born Isaac Donald Everly on February 1, 1937; died August 21, 2021) was an American musician best remembered as co-founder of country-influenced rock and roll duo The Everly Brothers.

Exposed to music at an early age, Don Everly teamed up with his brother, Phil Everly, to form the popular '50s and '60s rock duo The Everly Brothers. Their first album, Bye Bye Love, gained them international recognition and fame. Born in Brownie, KY, Don Everly was the son of Ike and Margaret Everly, popular country singers in the '40s. Don and Phil would frequently appear on their parents' radio shows and tour with them. The boys then embarked on their own in the '50s when they moved to Nashville. Kitty Wells recorded Don Everly's composition "Thou Shalt Not Steal" in 1954, and soon the boys were making a name for themselves.

The Everly Brothers' success began in 1957 when they made Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's song "Bye Bye Love" into a major hit. The combination of folk and country made a certain style that even those who opposed the music of the generation enjoyed. In 1973, with many unsuccessful albums and Don Everly's turmoil, the duo parted. During this time, Don Everly pursued a solo career. He found success in Nashville with his band Dead Cowboys and maintained a career by playing with Albert Lee. In June of 1983, the duo reunited and played for a standing-room-only audience at London's Royal Albert Hall. They achieved recognition again in 1984 with Paul McCartney's "Wings of a Nightingale." Despite hardships throughout his career, Don Everly was rewarded in 1986 when the duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

He recorded "Everytime You Leave" with Emmylou Harris on her 1979 album Blue Kentucky Girl.

On August 21, 2021, Don Everly died at his home in Nashville, aged 84. Read more about Don Everly on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.