EVERLY NEWS

If we have Everly News that can not be properly categorized then you most likely will read about it here. And whether it concerns interviews, fanclub days or even stolen equipment be sure to read about it on this page first !

As usual anything forwarded to our Mailbox is greatly appreciated. Make a fellow fan happy !

Updated: February 2007


An exclusive 4.5-hour DVD recording of

EBI’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY


 
(c) Martin Alberts

 

DOWNLOAD PARTY PROMO CLIP !

 

Recorded for Everly Brothers International at the Jacobi Theatre in Utrecht , The Netherlands

14th October, 2006

 

   

PRE-ORDER YOUR DVD SET OF EBI'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY 
4.5 hours on two quality stereo DVD's


Release date : 15 March 2007

Thanks to the Rocky Top Music Group you can now pre-order 4.5 hours of

Everly partying on 2 DVDs for only € 19.50 Euros (US $25.00) plus shipping.
Shipping outside Europe will be US $5.00, in Europe € 3.50.

 

You can pre-order the DVD Set until 15th March!
After mid March, the price will be € 24.50 (US $ 29.50) plus shipping.
Don't delay!

 

FREE EVERLY BROTHERS DVD WITH EACH PRE-ORDER

Order per email ( ebi@everly.net ) and send us your full name and address.

We will send you a free Everly DVD for each pre-order!!

 On 14th October, 2006 Harmony Trail, featuring Sylvester van Vugt, The Explosion

Rockets, Mike Everly, Peter Thyssen and Erik Goossens, and Anthony Lauren

appeared before 250 utterly enthusiastic, die hard Everly fans at the Jacobi Theatre in

Utrecht , The Netherlands .

All present enjoyed great live music acts from 3 pm till 10 pm, interrupted only by a

great buffet and a presentation of awards given to Martial F. Bekkers, for 40 years of

EBI, Yvonne van Rooijen and John Cornax for their continued efforts to give EBI

Parties the quality that they’ve had for many years, and Harmony Trail, without whom

these past 15 parties would never have been as successful as they have been.

 

Cameras were there to record the best Everly Party ever, a fitting farewell to Harmony

Trail after 15 continuous years of successful shows at EBI’s Parties.

This DVD is a comprehensive record of this event with over 4.5 hours of wonderful

Everly harmonies, complimented by the harmonies of Roy Orbison, Shakin’ Stevens,
Elvis and Cliff, rip-roaring authentic rock ‘n roll and a mouth watering buffet.


If you were not there with us you missed a great meal

…..but we can now give you the wonderful music!!

 

Harmony Trail  Fred and Geoffrey van Vugt (featuring Sylvester van Vugt)
The Explosion Rockets are Ruud Kuijpers, Toon Tijs, Erik Peers,Thom Sens, Henk

Verkooijen, Piet Krol, and Martien van Engelen

Sound technicians and engineers  Antoon van den Oetelaar and Gerard de Visser

Light  Jacobi Theater
Roadies  Henk van de Schans and Maikel Wennekes

Technician  Piet Swinkels

 

 

EBI would like to thank Ineke and Ben and the personnel of the Jacobi Theatre for their hard work and great service, the perfect acoustics, the wonderful buffet and the welcome equipment and facilities that were offered to us.

 

‘Broers’:
Peter Thyssen and Erik Goossens appear courtesy of Pilot Productions, Belgium with thanks to Hanne Gers
Martin King wrote the theatrical play ‘Brothers’ (‘Broers’) that we kindly recommend

   

Credits for photos and videos:

Sue and Mike Brambles, Sophia and Robert Phillipson, Martin Alberts, Sylva Hostetler, Ida and Rik Muller, Tonny Arkenbout and Arie Brinkman.

   

A Rocky Top Music Group Production in partnership with Everly Brothers International, Gouda , The Netherlands

 

 

Associate Producers Martial F. Bekkers and Peter Guijken

Video Editing and Post-Production for DVD by Peter Guijken, Amsterdam
                                                 

Audio Mix and Audio Post-Production by Peter Guijken, Amsterdam
DVD Package Design and Graphics for Rocky Top Music Group by Chris Comman, Amsterdam

 

For booking and information The Explosion Rockets   http://www.explosionrockets.nl

Fan club vermeegen27@zonnet.nl ask for their CD’s and the DVD ‘Live On Stage’

Telephone +31 (0)411 67 23 65

Cell phone +31 (0)6 45 92 85 86

Mike Everly’s WebSite  
http://www.royorbisontribute.net

 

Martial wishes to thank all these and especially Rob, Bas, Chris, Yvonne, John and Lydia , Dick and Sylva


Finally a special word of thanks to our sponsors who made Harmony Trail’s  farewell
 and our 40th Anniversary classy and  unforgettable :
 

 

Ida and Rik Muller, Gerrit Vermeulen, Peter Profittlich, Mia and Jan Garretsen, John van der Holst and his wife and Frits Sontrop

 

 

~ In memory of the many friends we have lost along the way! ~


EVERLY THEATRE PLAY IN BELGIUM

READ THE REVIEW !

Everly Theatre Play !

DOWNLOAD VIDEOCLIPS :      CLIP 1        CLIP 2

(this news item is especially for Dutch-speaking fans)

BELANGRIJK:  SHOW IN BRUSSEL ALLEEN OP 1 DECEMBER 2006 !!!
(laatste kans dus dit jaar.....................................)

In november en december zal in Antwerpen en Brussel de voorstelling 'Broers' gespeeld worden. Zoals al te raden valt gaat dit verhaal over de levens van Don & Phil, dus zeker de moeite waard om de onderstaande data in je agenda vrij te houden. Allereerst echter even een korte samenvatting van het verhaal:

*

BROERS

Broers wandelt terug in het leven van de beruchte ‘Everly Brothers’.

Een humoristisch, maar eerlijk verhaal over de 10 meest stormachtige jaren uit het leven van de beroemdste broers uit de popmuziek : Phil en Don Everly.

Laat je meeslepen door prachtige wereldhits zoals ‘Bye,bye love’, ‘Cathy’s clown’, ‘Crying in the rain’, ‘Wake up little Susie’, en vele anderen.

Ontdek waarom ze splitten, maar uiteindelijk toch weer samenkwamen.  Ze konden niet met, maar ook niet zonder mekaar. Veroordeeld tot mekaar.

Peter Thyssen en Erik Goossens kruipen in de huid van Don en Phil Everly en zo wordt dit verhaal vol harmonie en ironie een geestige en onthullende voorstelling met veel muziek.

Een avond vol pure nostalgie, humor en ontspanning !

Speeldata

17,18 november 2006 in Fakkeltheater Antwerpen
Info en reservaties : www.fakkelteater.be of +32 3 232 14 69
Ticketprijs 20 euro

1 december 2006 in Theater Arte in Brussel
Info en reservaties : www.theaterarte.be of +32 2 227 97 11
Ticketprijs 20 euro

*

Heb je interesse ?  Laat dit dan even aan Martial weten via  ebi@everly.net 

Binnenkort meer.................................................


EVERLYS RECEIVE KENTUCKY AWARD

Governor Fletcher Presents Governor’s Awards in the Arts to Kentuckians Across the Commonwealth

The Everly Brothers Top List of Recipients

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher honored nine recipients, including nationally acclaimed recording artists The Everly Brothers, for their contributions to the arts in Kentucky.

"The individuals and organizations selected for these awards have made Kentucky a better place to live through their tireless contributions to the arts," said Governor Fletcher. "They exemplify the unbridled spirit of Kentucky and make us all proud to be Kentuckians."

“As the Kentucky Arts Council celebrates its fortieth anniversary we are proud to honor these outstanding individuals, groups and programs,” said Executive Director Lori Meadows. “Artists and groups that promote and support the arts add meaning and value to our lives. These awards help quantify their contributions.”

The Governor's Awards in the Arts recipients are selected annually in nine different categories, with the Milner Award being the most prestigious and the first established by the Arts Council (then Kentucky Arts Commission) in 1978. The Milner Award is named after the late B. Hudson Milner, a Louisville utility executive and civic leader who served on the Kentucky Arts Commission under four consecutive governors.

The 2005 recipient of the Milner Award, which recognizes outstanding individual commitment to the arts and their role in the economy, community and culture of Kentucky, is Glema Mahr of Madisonville. Mahr has been a devoted volunteer, outstanding board member and significant donor to the arts-programming endowment of the Madisonville Community College Glema Mahr Center for the Arts.

The National Award honors the Everly Brothers, originally from the Central City area, as Kentuckians who have achieved national acclaim for their artistic achievement. Don and Phil Everly recorded such popular hits as "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bye Bye Love," and "All I Have to Do Is Dream." The Everly Brothers continue to perform internationally and return to Kentucky often for the Central City Music Festival. Proceeds from their concerts at the festival go to the Everly Brothers Foundation, which provides college scholarships to Muhlenburg County students and assists with local area economic development projects.


NEW EVERLY BOOK

The Everly Brothers:
A Celebration in Photos, Fantasy and Verse
A Pictures and Poetry Biography

by Judi Gamin

Download a Free Page that was not in the book !

Our good friend Judi Gamin just released a brand new Everly book. Here's what the publisher has to say about it:

'This book is a celebration of The Everly Brothers and their tremendous contribution to the music industry, which has had an enormous impact on the music culture internationally but for some reason does not get the attention deserved. By writing this book, the author has attempted to reconcile that.

This book, in addition to being a comparative analysis of the brothers’ individual music and writing styles, as well as who and how they were influenced, also explains why a poetry book was written. It also explores their place in history, reviews researched facts in detail by footnotes, including their chart sales as recorded by Billboard, some personal information, photos for fans exclusively, a list of recorded contributions, and much more.

A Celebration In Photos, Fantasy, and Verse is a Limited Collector’s Edition and the only book on the market anywhere on the Everly Brothers that contains such detailed information and exclusive photos. For the Everly Brothers aficionado, this book is a must.'

For more information and ordering please visit the AtlasBooks Website

or

Call toll free 1(800)247-6553 to order directly


EBI PARTY IN HOLLAND A BIG SUCCESS


Hardly any time left to write a review about the Party at Spakenburg, The Netherlands on Saturday, 22nd October. Never had so many people in and from the reactions we can safely say most of them will be next year in October. Missed a few people (whom we hope will be back next time) and saw a lot of new faces.

Wonderful job, Yvonne!

 
Great performances of Harmony Trail, including Sylvester. A special thanks to Gerrit Vermeulen to offer us a whole PA system and light at the very last moment. As far as I know there was not one complaint about the fact that unfortunately one of their speakers broke down at the very last moment so Patrick and his friends had to drive for a few hours for a new set! We just turned our planned program around and Fred, Geoffrey and Sylvester did a wonderful series of sets of songs just a bit later than planned.
 
Newest DVD's and exclusive video footage were watched by many with open mouths.

 
Many fans there collected their tickets for the Everly Brothers Concerts in London and paid their entry fee for the Buffet/Party in London which promises to be just as big a success. If you did not mail us make sure to let us know some way soon that you will be there too. More later and on our WebSite.
 
We started the official part of our Party with an impressive moment of silence to remember our friend Ton van Leuven. There's quality in that crowd that I cherish so highly, everybody.

Here's what Peter Aarts mailed to Sera, Nimzo and all other members of Ton's family the
next morning :

 
Hi Sera, Nimzo and all other Van Leuven family members,

Yesterday the annual "Everly Fan night'' took place and, as always, it was a nice opportunity to meet with old acquaintances and friends in a musical setting.
Your father was missed by many fans in attendance and it was made impossible that anyone could have forgot. 

During the evening, a moment of silence was dedicated to Ton in remembrance of his many years of friendship. There was a minute of silence so that all of us remembered Ton. This was a special moment for all of us there and did all of us alot of good.

The Party ended around 11 when Fred and I thanked all the people present, especially the ones who were actively involved with the organization of the event: The staff of the Restaurant, John and Lydia for all the work they did all night, Yvonne of course who presented the lottery and a round of Bingo, Chris for helping us out behind the Kentucky Shop, Bas who welcomed all the people at the door, guarded the entrance and explained people about the London Buffet/Party, Rob for showing all the very special video footage on a big video screen, Gerrit and Patrick and his friends for the sound and light, and last but not least Fred, Geoffrey and Sylvester for their close harmony singing that we all enjoy so much.

P.S. Next October, 2006, will be the 15th Anniversary of Harmony Trail. They will
perform their Everly songs at our Party for the very last time.


FAREWELL, TON VAN LEUVEN

Farewell Ton..............................

July 1946 - August 2005

Don and Phil have again lost a faithful number ONE fan, and we his (Everly) friends have lost a great pall.
 
Ton van Leuven was a first generation Everly Brothers fan and an enthousiast member of ,,Everly Brothers International'' .
 
Lots  of us will remember his devoted articles in  various  publications of ,,KENTUCKY'' magazine
 
He was a precise person who loved to explore the files of the Everly Brothers recording history, and then put them into detailed lists for others to enjoy.
 
Ton also was the person who was a master in analyzing Everly songs and he picked out even the smallest differences in ,,takes'' .
 
Ton was a Everly Brothers connaisseur ,  we will miss him a lot.
 
We wish his family , friends and acquaintances all the strength they will certainl need in the days to come.
 
(and we at EBI want to thank Peter Aarts for perfectly summarizing what Ton meant to us)

Lake Malone Inn a 'total loss' in fire

Lake Malone Inn

Sad news reached us this week. The Lake Malone Inn, which is owned by Don Everly, has completely been burnt down in a fire on Sunday 10th of July.

To read more about this tragic event you can follow the links below:

Lake Malone Inn a 'total loss' in fire

Lake Malone fire under investigation


EVERLY BROTHERS IN BBC TV DOCUMENTARY

BROTHERS IN ARMS.  BBC 1, 2 MAY.
22:45 UK GMT;   23:45  EUROPEAN CONTINENT

with thanks to Andrew Morgan, Will Bryant and Tessa Blakeley.......................

'We now are allowed to confirm the transmission date and time for the BBC1 program looking at brothers in pop groups together, including a feature on Phil and Don Everly. It will be shown in the UK at 22.45 on Monday 2nd May on BBC1. 

Thank you for all your invaluable help with the program'.

Brothers In Arms

'They say that blood is thicker than water...Brothers In Arms puts that to the test by examining the brothers who have formed and fronted rock bands. From the Everlys to the Gallaghers via the Kinks and Spandau Ballet, Brothers In Arms tells the stories of the bands of brothers who went from their bedrooms to become household  names - often with a price to pay.  With contributions from Martin Kemp, Matt Goss, Dave Davies, Jason Everly, Albert Lee, David Knopfler and the Campbell Brothers of UB40'.

Our sincerest thanks to Tessa Blakeley (ladies first), Andrew Morgan and Will Bryant at the BBC for their great service and what is going to be a wonderful documentary. 

If you can download this program on your computer and make us a stereo DVD ...... we look forward to hear from you (ebi@everly.net) . And that goes for any other piece of Everly footage that you may have on a video cassette, CD Rom or DVD, OK?


Phil Everly attends funeral Felice Bryant

Phil and Patti

Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and his wife Patti leave the Woodlawn Cemetery chapel following the funeral of Felice Bryant in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 25, 2003. Bryant's songs "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" were big hits for the Everly Brothers. She wrote or co-wrote with her late husband 800 songs recorded by more than 500 vocalists. (AP Photo/John Russell). 

Phil Everly Quote:
"I think maybe as much success as their music has brought my brother and I, the personal relationship was more beneficial, I would go to them for lovelorn advice when I was young, and divorce advice when I was older."


Felice Bryant: 1925 - 2003

Boudleaux & Felice Bryant

Felice Bryant, Hall of Fame Songwriter, Dies at 77

Calvin Gilbert
04/22/2003

"Country Music Hall of Fame member Felice Bryant, a partner in one of most successful and prolific songwriting teams in music history, died Tuesday morning (April 22) at her home in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Bryant, 77, had been diagnosed with cancer.

She and her late husband, Boudleaux Bryant, are credited with writing more than 800 songs -- including "Rocky Top," "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Bye Bye Love" -- that resulted in international sales estimated at more than 500 million copies. The couple's compositions played a key role in the Everly Brothers' career, and their songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists including Eddy Arnold, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Simon & Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, the Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ruth Brown, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles.   

Born Matilda Genevieve Scaduto on Aug. 7, 1925, in Milwaukee, Felice Bryant began her songwriting journey as a child when she began composing lyrics set to traditional Italian melodies. In 1945, she was working as an elevator operator at a Milwaukee hotel where Boudleaux, a classically-trained violinist, was performing. They eloped just two days later and remained married until his death in 1987. She adopted her professional name, Felice, from a pet name her husband called her.

Boudleaux Bryant toured with jazz and country bands before the couple settled in his hometown of Moultrie, Ga., where they began to concentrate on their songwriting. Legendary music publisher Fred Rose pitched one of the Bryant's songs to Little Jimmy Dickens. In 1949, "Country Boy" became Dickens' second Top 10 hit.  

At Rose's urging, the Bryants moved to Nashville in 1950. In doing so, they were among the first to relocate in Nashville solely to pursue a songwriting career. The Bryants are also credited as early pioneers of song promotion and self-publishing in Nashville. They formed their own company, Showcase Music, in 1954 before striking a deal with Rose's company, Acuff-Rose Music  Publishing. In an unprecedented move, the Bryants' contract with Acuff-Rose stipulated that the publishing  rights to their songs would eventually revert to their ownership. When their Acuff-Rose contract expired in 1966, they assumed ownership of their song catalog to launch their own music publishing company, House of Bryant Publications.  

The Bryants reaped the financial benefits when rock 'n' roll was born in the '50s. The couple co-wrote most of the Everly Brothers' early hits, including "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "Problems" and "Take a Message to Mary." Additionally, Boudleaux Bryant was the lone songwriter on several of the Everly Brothers' other hits,  including "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Devoted to You" and "Love Hurts." Buddy Holly recorded the Bryants' "Raining in My Heart" during his final recording session in 1958.

 Their other hits include "Baltimore" (Sonny James), "Got a Hole in My Pocket" (Ricky Van Shelton), "Out Behind the Barn" (Jimmy Dickens), "Hey Joe" (Carl Smith), "Blue Boy" (Jim Reeves), "The Richest Man in the World" (Eddy Arnold) and Chet Atkins' signature instrumental, "Country Gentleman." Their "Rocky Top" was adopted as Tennessee's official state song in 1982.  

Although Felice Bryant preferred to co-write, one of her solo compositions, "We Could," was recorded by a variety of artists, including George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Kitty Wells, George Morgan, the Louvin Brothers, Charley Pride, Al Martino, John Prine, Reeves, Dickens and others. She wrote the song as a birthday gift to her husband.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991, the Bryants are also members of the National Academy of  Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Bryants moved to Gatlinburg in 1978 and operated the Rocky Top Village Inn in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the early '50s, the couple recorded four singles for MGM Records, but their only album as performers, A Touch of Bryant, was released in 1979.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will include a service in Gatlinburg and a memorial at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Nashville. Survivors include two sons, real estate executive Dane Bryant and BMI executive vice president Del Bryant, both of Nashville" 

As Everly fans we can only conclude by saying, Felice Bryant will live on in the music............in our hearts, just like her late husband Boudleaux.


Everly Brothers Tribute Concert (16 March 2003)

Everly Tribute

(c) John Cornax

Muziekcentrum 'Zalen Schaaf'  *  Breedstraat 48  *  Leeuwarden  *  tel. 058 - 2158003

Aanvang: 15.00        Einde: 19.00        Entree: €5

(English version below)

Op zondag 16 maart a.s. zal 'Oldies But Goldies' in samenwerking met Harmony Trail een Everly Brothers Tribute Concert organiseren in de foyer van Muziek Centrum Schaaf te Leeuwarden.

Zoals bekend verzorgt Harmony Trail jaarlijks de live muziek op onze EBI parties en zullen ze wederom weer vele Everly klassiekers ten gehore brengen op deze zondagmiddag.  

Een optreden om niet te missen dus !

*

Sunday, 16th March, 2003 "Oldies But Goldies" organizes an "Everly Brothers Tribute Concert" at the Foyercafé of the Music Center "Schaaf" in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, in co-operation with Friesland's singing duo Harmony Trail.

Harmony Trail are father and son, Wilfred and Geoffrey van Vugt. A few years ago the were the supporting act of their idols in the Ahoy' Sportspalace in Rotterdam. They had lots of success with their own beautiful songs and vocals.

Harmony Trail are often invited to "Golden Oldies" festivals in the Netherlands and abroad. In April they will do a short tour in England. Meanwhile Harmony Trail has recorded 2 CD albums, "Loving You" and  "Everly Classics"....and they're working on a 3rd album which is planned for release at the end of this year.


ALBERT LEE & CO IN HOLLAND

That Famous Singing Duo: Bekkers & Lee !

Martial & Albert at the Gig in Rotterdam

ALBERT LEE & HOGAN'S HEROES 
LIVE AT NIGHTTOWN,
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

4th December, 2002

by Martial Bekkers

I connected to Sue Hargreaves, enthusiastic manager of Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes, in time to make sure that this time I could not miss their gig in Rotterdam.

I went with my friends Arie (WebMaster of the Kentucky On-line Shop) and Dick Kooiman, one of the longest time EBI members, and was welcomed very warmly by Sue and the band, just on their way out to get a bite before the show which was scheduled for a little after 7:30 PM. By then the place was packed!

Needless to say it was a perfect performance of almost 2 hours, greeted by an excited insider crowd that applauded the many quality solos by Albert Lee (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Pete Wingfield (keyboards), Gerry Hogan (steel guitar), Brian Hodgson (bass and vocals), and Peter Baron (drums and vocals). So many well-known songs passed by, one even better than the next.  Several of these songs can be found on the CD's 'Real Wild Child' and 'Tear It Up' which were showcased. Songs like Fats Domino's 'I'm Ready', Buddy's rocker 'Rock Around With Ollie Vee' or the slower, melodious 'Take Your Time', some great Jim Webb ballads like 'If You See Me Getting Smaller' (with Albert on keyboards), Elton John's 'Country Comfort'......great classics from even greater songwriters like Rodney Crowell, Hank DeVito and John Hiatt, varied with some very nice own compositions.

Of course I picked up a copy of each of the CD's for myself plus a pair for Burt Poyck, a good friend of Albert's and the band (hope you spend some nice sunny days at Burt's holiday bungalows on the wonderful isle of Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean's one day.......any of you interested, just let me know). As an encore Albert introduced an impressive rendition of 'So Sad' with a short remark about the fact that Pete and he had regularly been on the road and in the studios with the Everly Brothers. He then added 'this is for Martial' before going into the song and I managed to get in a yell of thanks in the short silence that followed. Really a very kind, warm gesture by him and the band that overwhelmed me a bit(as Pete said afterwards, 'moments like these humble you'!).  

Sure regret we couldn't invite Albert to our Party!? He knows we have tried everything. Had a great time at Rotterdam guys and will. Highly recommended entertainment for all of you....with thanks to their sponsors for the night, FEEDBACK IN ROTTERDAM. 

All info and the tour schedule for 2002 and 2003 are available at the band's WebSite

http://www.albertleeandhogansheroes.com/

For further information on Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes or how to purchase CD's
simply contact Sue Hargreaves:

Note From Sue  .  .  .  Always check with the venue before travelling!  If you would like to be added to the Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes mailing list then simply contact Sue . . .  

 

THE BANDS NEW CD WILL BE ON SALE AT ALL THE GIGS! IT'S A MUST!!!!! If you can't get to a GIG, then simply call Sue! She just loves posting things!


Everly Brothers - Reunion Concert on DVD !

Reunion Concert

DVD SET FOR RELEASE EARLY 2003


In Europe the DVD will be released by Videofilme. In the US and Canada it will be released as a Region 1 encoding. The total Run Time will be 65 minutes.We can only hope for extra tracks to be on this DVD but hardly
any details are available right now.

The price is announced to be around US $ 21.00 to 25.00 / € 22.00. Of course thanks to the Rocky Top Music Group, if at all possible, you will be able to pre order from EBI through the Kentucky On-lineShop at a very early stage.

You will find details as soon as possible in our upcoming EVzines


It Takes Two

BBC

(click pic for a special animation)

On Sunday, May 5th 2002 the BBC broadcasted a very special programme on duos in pop music. Naturally the Everlys were highlighted and with the help of EBI some very interesting clippings and pics were shown of Don & Phil. The show focused on the problems that occur within those musical relationships and very worthwhile interviews could be seen with a.o. Phil, his son Jason and Albert Lee. Jane Maugham, the producer of the show, really did a great job (thanks gal !) 

Immediately after the broadcast Eric South sent us some pictures he made straight from his television set. Please click the pic above for a special animated selection of those pictures (thanks Eric, they really look great..................)

Keep your eye on this section of the site as we're trying to obtain permission to show you bits and pieces from the show in streaming video (now wouldn't that be nice !)


Everlys inducted in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame

Music hall of fame recognizes state's pioneer sons, daughters

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

The new Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inducted its pioneer group of a dozen trailblazing Kentucky musical legends last night at a star-studded celebration in Lexington.

The event honored the contributions of groundbreaking Kentuckians, including country singer/songwriter Loretta Lynn, the late bluegrass great Bill Monroe, harmonizing pop chart-toppers the Everly Brothers and famed "girl singer" Rosemary Clooney.

The night was full of laughter and song, as well as some tears. Two giant screens broadcast video introductions of each, so the crowd laughed at the antics of the late Grandpa Jones, tapped their feet to Monroe, and at the end sang My Old Kentucky Home with all the inductees.

Even the presenters were top drawer: Everyone from longtime country music host Ralph Emery to longtime Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee helped do the honors. Emery presented the induction to his friend, country singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall, while Conlee was there to present to the children of his mentor, the late Hee Haw performer and banjo picker Grandpa Jones.

"It's a wonderful night to celebrate Kentucky's musical heritage," said Connie Hunt Peterson, chief executive officer and general manager of the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, where the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum will open May 17. "There's nothing like your home state. It's always nice to have the home folks bragging on you."

Of the living inductees, only the Everly Brothers and Rosemary Clooney were not present. Clooney, 73, had lung cancer surgery in mid-January and is still recovering at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She's unusual among the inductees: On Wednesday, the Grammys honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award, which her son accepted on her behalf. She also was nominated for a Grammy this year in the category of traditional pop vocal album. Her brother, Nick Clooney, accepted on her behalf via videotape.

Margaret Everly, mother of Don and Phil Everly, accepted for the Everly Brothers. "I'll have to tell the boys I was here," she said.


Everlys inducted in the Country Hall of Fame

Country Hall of Fame

CMT News

By Michael Gray
10/05/2001


After letting the news sink in for three months that they were going into the Country Music Hall of Fame, new members showed great emotion about receiving the highest honor in country music during Thursday night's (Oct. 4) formal induction ceremony.

Uniformly poignant, the acceptance speeches ranged in tone and length, from Phil Everly's brief and focused remarks to Sam Phillips' 20-minute, stream-of-consciousness oration.

Brief video bios highlighting career achievements preceded each induction. The video tributes were voiced by celebrities such as John Anderson (the Delmore Brothers), Emmylou Harris (the Louvin Brothers), Mark Knopfler (the Everly Brothers), Hall of Famer Brenda Lee (the Jordanaires) and others.

Family members of the posthumous inductees -- including Pierce, Law, the Delmore Brothers, Homer & Jethro, Ira Louvin and Hoyt Hawkins and Neal Matthews Jr. (of the Jordanaires) -- were present to honor their loved ones but did not make speeches. Jennings, Gibson and Don Everly (of the Everly Brothers) did not attend.

Phil Everly, the last to be ceremoniously inducted, kept his remarks short and sweet. "I want to thank my father for teaching us," he said. "I want to thank my mother for dreaming us. I want to thank Boudleaux and Felice [Bryant] for writing us. I want to thank Chet [Atkins] for guiding us. And I want to thank you all for honoring us."

In recent years, Hall of Fame gala events have often ended by participants singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." In light of our recent national crisis, Stuart, Malo and Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell concluded Thursday's banquet by leading a sing-along of "America the Beautiful."

The Show will be aired on Nov.7th. Please click HERE for more info


Final Everly Tour ???

According to Don this year's probably gonna be their final full-length Tour. Please read the article below for more about this issue. 

Arts & Entertainment : Friday, July 20, 2001

Copyright © 2001 The Seattle Times Company


Concert Review
Everlys' last tour features more than just their classic hits

The Everly Brothers played here for the first time 44 years ago and for probably the last time Wednesday night.

"This is probably our last tour," Don Everly told a capacity crowd at the King Cat. "We'll play Vegas and Tahoe a couple of times a year from now on, and that's about it."

The Everly Brothers


Wednesday night at the King Cat Theater, Seattle.
That would be a shame because the great country-and-rock duo — one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — still have a lot of life left in them. Both Don, 64, and Phil, 63, look remarkably young for their ages, and their harmonies, while not as crisp as when they made their Seattle debut at the old Orpheum Theater in "The Big Show of Stars for '57," are still warm and sweet.

Don hinted that the recent deaths of their earliest champion in Nashville, Chet Atkins, and their close friend, John Hartford (whose son Jamie plays guitar and mandolin in the Everlys' band), influenced the brothers' decision to quit the road. "It seems like the right time," Don said. They quit the road before, when they were estranged for some 10 years, from 1973 to '83, but have been going strong ever since.

And they seem to still enjoy playing. They've been doing it all their lives, starting as children in a family band, and they do it well. The show was briskly paced and marked by fine musicianship from the Everlys and their five-piece band, which also included the great steel guitarist Buddy Emmons.

They could've done a whole set of their classic rock hits — and they did do a lot of them — but instead varied the songs by including old country favorites from their childhood, some of their country hits (they recently were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame) and a few covers.

The two always were able to switch easily from romantic ballads to honky-tonk rock. They balanced love songs, like the beautiful ballad "Devoted to You," the sublime "All I Have To Do Is Dream," the aching "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" and the pleading "Let It Be Me," with lively workouts on "Claudette," "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bye Bye Love" and "('Til) I Kissed You." They displayed some of their finest harmonies in "Cathy's Clown" and "Crying in the Rain."

Dressed in black suits (Don's had some fancy red piping) and playing guitars, they opened with a couple of regional Southern ballads, "Green River" and "Bowling Green," which immediately evoked a down-home, party-time atmosphere.

Later they devoted a section of the show to "songs our daddy taught us," according to Don (that's also the title of one of their albums), which included "Longtime Gone," an earthy country song. Among their largely forgotten gems was "I Wonder If I Care As Much," which was the B-side of their first hit, "Bye Bye Love." Among songs associated with other artists were "Lucille" (Little Richard) and "Love Hurts" (Roy Orbison).


EBI Live On Radio 192 !

Radio 192

On Monday, July 23rd Martial and myself will appear on Radio 192 to assist in the making of the 'Story of The Everly Brothers'. Good news for all you people living outside The Netherlands, their website offers you the possibility to tune in to this feature as well ! Of course it will be in Dutch but we promise you there also will be a lot of rare Everly songs to listen to (e.g. from the upcoming Warner releases).

The programm will be broadcasted on Monday, July 23rd from 8.00 to 10.00 PM. Dutch time of course. This means that e.g.  in New York it will be broadcasted at 2.00 pm , Los Angeles at 11.00 AM and London 7.00 PM.

Follow the link to Radio 192 and click on the menu option Live Radio. Note: for the broadcast you need the Real Audio Player. Click HERE to download it for free !


Farewell, Good Friends...................

Gerda Chet Tom

Gerda van Steensel

Chet Atkins

Tom Lewis

Amidst the joy of Summer and with all those great Warner releases around the corner we sadly also have to inform you about the passing away of three persons who were very unique and special in the Everly world. Please follow the links above to read more about these tragic events......................


Birthday Party

Just recently we received a nice clipping from a showbizz mag (thanks Peter Aarts and Alyce Cadena) featuring several members of Don's (ex) family. On the right you'll see Edan, Erin, Venetia Stevenson and Don's grandson Eres !

Birthday Party !Birthday Party !


R.I.P. Ruud de Wolff (Blue Diamonds)

Yesterday the management of the Blue Diamonds confirmed that last Monday (December 18th, 2000) Ruud de Wolff died.
Ruud (on the left in the picture) had been  ill for some time. He reached the age of 59.

 

 The Blue Diamonds & The Everlys at Schiphol 1988

 

Ruud and his brother Riem came to Holland from Indonesia in 1949. They became famous as the 'Dutch EVERLY BROTHERS'. In the late fifties and early sixties they recorded a lot of Everly hits which sold very well in Holland. They did ''Let It Be Me'' - 'Till I kissed You'' - Cathy's Clown" - That'll Be The Day'' -  ''Lucille'' - ''So Sad''  (in German language) and a few more Everly tunes.

 
The Blue Diamonds were considered as a real threat to the sales figures of  the Everly Brothers records with the same title. In fact it got so serious that Decca records (Holland) got requests from Warner Brothers USA to make sure that NO Blue Diamonds Everly hit cover should be released in Holland BEFORE the Everly version was released in here.
 
The Blue Diamonds had a worlwide hit with a song called RAMONA  in 1961.
 
Don and Phil at several occasions that I have wittnessed personally talked with high esteem about The Blue Diamonds, a quality close harmony duo.
When they thought of Holland The Blue Diamonds were about the first names that popped up in their minds.
Competitors whom they rated highly.
 
We vividly and gratefully remember the days in 1988 when the Blue Diamonds and the EBI Staff welcomed the Everly Brothers to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for their very successful Some Hearts Tour.
A few years earlier Ruud and Riem had taken some time out to be with us at our best EBI Party ever in Soestduinen in the Netherlands. That party was even televised that year. We just wanted to congratulate them on their 25th Anniversary in the music business and presented them with flowers and to our surprise they got on stage and did some wonderful Everly songs for the fans who were gathered there. What a great gesture from an act that we normally could not afford at all. A night to remember....(with thanks to Miep).   
 
Our thoughts are with Riem and the families of both Ruud and Riem that grieve over this big loss.

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Vaarwel, Ruud de Wolff (Blue Diamonds)

Gisteren bevestigde het management van de Blue Diamonds officieel dat Ruud de Wolff afgelopen maandag (18 december 2000)  is overleden in zijn woonplaats Driebergen.
Ruud (op de foto links) was al geruime tijd ziek. Hij werd 59 jaar.

 

 
The Blue Diamonds & The Everlys at Schiphol 1988
 
 
Ruud en zijn broer Riem kwamen in 1949 uit Indonesië naar ons land. Zij kregen bekendheid als de 'Nederlandse EVERLY BROTHERS'. Eind vijftiger jaren en begin zestiger jaren namen ze verschillende Everly hits op die de Nederlandse en Duitse hitparades haalden. Ze zongen ''Let It Be Me'' - 'Till I kissed You'' - Cathy's Clown" - That'll Be The Day'' -  ''Lucille'' - ''So Sad''  (in het Duits) en enkele andere Everly liedjes.
 
De Blue Diamonds werden als een echte bedreiging gezien voor de verkoopcijfers van de platen van de Everly Brothers met dezelfde titel. Het werd zelfs zo serieus dat Decca Records (Holland) van Warner Brothers USA het verzoek kreeg dat ze geen Blue Diamonds Everly hit cover in ons land mochten uitbrengen voordat de Everly versie hier uit was.
Er was toen niet alleen een scherpe rivaliteit tussen de twee duo's en hun platenmaatschappijen. Tussen bepaalde groepen binnen de gelederen van hun fans bestond zelfs een vorm van vijandschap, die toen we eindelijk volwassen werden, omsloeg in regelrechte waardering, respect voor het pure vakmanschap van de Blue Diamonds
 
De Blue Diamonds hadden in 1961 een wereldhit met RAMONA waarvan er in vele landen totaal 7 miljoen over de toonbank gingen.
 
Don en Phil hebben zich in mijn persoonlijke aanwezigheid op verschillende gelegenheden erg lovend over de Blue Diamonds uitgelaten, een kwaliteits close harmony duo.
Als ze aan Nederland dachten waren de Blue Diamonds voor de Everlys vaak hun eerste gedachtenassociatie, concurrenten die ze zeer zijn gaan waarderen.
 
We herinneren ons met dankbaarheid en plezier die dagen in 1988 toen de Blue Diamonds en de EBI afvaardiging de Everly Brothers op Schiphol welkom heetten voor hun zeer succesvolle Some Hearts Tour.
Ekele jaren eerder (1985) hadden Ruud en Riem de tijd genomen om op onze beste EBI Party ooit in Soestduinen te zijn. Boudewijn Büch bracht er zelfs een deeltje van op de televisie.We wilden Ruud en Riem alleen maar in de bloemetjes zetten voor hun 25-jarig artiesten jubileum en symbolisch de strijdbijl begraven. Tot onze verrassing beklommen ze ons amateur podium en brachten ze een paar steengoede Everly songs voor de aanwezige fans. Wat een sympathiek gebaar van een act die we ons normaal natuurlijk helemaal niet konden veroorloven. Uniek, een avond om nooit te vergeten ....(met dank aan Miep en hun manager André van Keulen).   
 
Onze gedachten zijn bij Riem, de families van Ruud en Riem en hun management met dit zware verlies.

An interesting comment from Jason Everly (Phil's son)

"Q: What is the most unforgettable thing that ever happened to you this year (1999) ?

A: Probably attending my dad’s 60th birthday party. There were about 200 people there. All my dad’s closest friends. Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, The Crickets it was amazing! They tented the entire back yard. All my family was there. The Los Angeles Police even flew a helicopter low overhead and yelled "Happy Birthday Phil" from the speakers. My Mom even came and my parents have been divorced since I was 3."


Margaret Everly, Palm Springs 1999

A Letter from Margaret Everly

At the morning of the EBI Party, Saturday, October 30 1999, we received a very nice and welcome letter from Miss Margaret Everly, as you all will know the mother of Donald and Phil Everly.   Here are just a few lines from that letter. Of course there's much more in the letter but that's too private to share with you all.  

Dear Martial,

Just a note - to let you know - how much I miss hearing from you all in Holland. Please call me sometime. What is Bert doing these days? I never hear from him anymore. Tell everyone hello for me.

Sincerely, Margaret E. Everly

Meanwhile you will be interested to know I called Margaret to thank her, talk about the old days, etc. I also took the opportunity to give our regards to her on behalf of all the Everly fans. If there's news she agrees on we can let you know we will certainly put it up on the Site. Promise...and there will be news, no doubt about it.  

If you'd like to send your Xmas greetings to Miss Everly, please send your cards or wishes to EBI at P.O. Box 334, OAK LAWN, IL 60453, USA. We will pass them on for you. Make sure you include some coupons or stamps to cover our postage, OK?


Phil Everly got married on 23 August 1999

On Monday, August 23 Phil got married (his 3rd marriage) to Patti Arnold. The event took place at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas after a series of Everly concerts. The information below was taken from an article that appeared in the National Enquirer.

Phil and Patti
Phil and his bride, Patti Arnold

Official"I've been through two marriages and I've been single since the late 1970s. I was convinced I'd be single for the rest of my life. "But in 1994 I threw a New Year's Eve party and my son's friend brought some friends and Patti just happened to be one of them.

"The minute I saw her my jaw hit the ground. I spent most of the night talking to her and by midnight I knew I'd met a very special person. "It didn't take me long after that to realize this was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. "But I wanted to err on the side of caution and not jump into another marriage. So Patti and I made a pledge to each other: If we could be in a serious relationship for five years, we would get married." After five years, Phil and Patti -- who'd never married before -- were still going strong.

"So during the Christmas holidays last year I got down on my knee, pulled out a 2 1 2-carat diamond ring, placed it on her finger and asked her to marry me."

"We decided on a Las Vegas wedding because that was easiest on the 150 friends and family we planned on inviting and we figured they'd have a great time while here.

"Viva Las Vegas!"

(c) The National Enquirer, 1999


A Harmonic Convergence With Phil Everly

By Ben Wener / Knight Ridder

(c) Idaho News - 1999

(we would like to thank Elsie Lee for the info)

We're talking about harmony - not racial harmony or world-peace harmony but simply singing in harmony, something Phil Everly helped write the book on, as far as rock 'n' roll (and country and even soul) is concerned. And we're (well, I'm) wondering why in an age of sampling and freaky electro-modulated voices (like on that irritating Cher thing) and plenty of the same old angst that smells like teen spirit and can't find a major third or fifth to complement its melody - heck, at a time when boy bands such as 'N Sync and 98 are supposed to be reviving the form - harmony vocals seem to be a dying art.

Everly doesn't think so. "A dying art?" he asked incredulously - or rather, as incredulously as his soft, still slightly Southern drawl will allow. "I think there is a tremendous amount of harmony groups out there today. Boyz II Men - they're great! There are dozens of great bands that have taken what we did and built on it in amazing ways." He's being generous. To these ears - and no doubt to many others' - few if any (the Beach Boys come to mind) have bested what the Everly Brothers have done, in their heyday or any time since, and their influence is huge. Without them, the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, the Eagles, Crosby, Stills & Nash and countless others would not have been as powerful. Without them, rock 'n' roll might not have found the sweetness at the core of its rebellion.

The duo began in 1955 playing Appalachian folk on Nashville radio shows before achieving acclaim and popularity with a string of classics that everyone knows (or should, if they call themselves music fans): "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bye Bye Love," "Bird Dog," "When Will I Be Loved" and the gorgeously sparse ballads "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Let It Be Me." Four decades on - and with the bad blood between Phil, 60, and his brother Don, 62, long in the past - the group is still at it, regularly packing houses in Las Vegas (mostly at the Orleans, something of a home away from home for them).

Right away I admit a glaring flaw in my music studies to Phil (whom I have trouble calling Phil): I have never seen the Everly Brothers, despite easy and virtually free opportunities this decade when they have played any number of Orange County Fairs. No offense to the fair, but I've always thought these guys deserved better than to be tossed in with the other nostalgia nuts that play each year. I have long thought, in fact, that the infamous 1973 row that finally split the brothers in two probably had as much to do with where they were playing - the John Wayne Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm, a venue that even then reeked of has-been status - as it did with sibling rivalry and artistic differences and whose solo career was going to flourish and whose wasn't. In retrospect, that doesn't seem to be as paramount. What does is that perhaps the brothers were faced with a jarring realization that their time (but not their talent) had passed, and that playing Knott's was just the last straw. As it is, that July night - when midway into the second of three sets Phil smashed his guitar and stormed off stage, leaving Don to announce, "The Everly Brothers were dead 10 years ago" - remains as permanent a fixture in their mythology as their almost infallible harmonies.

Phil is all too aware of its reputation. "It's always something that people can write about and pin something to," he said by phone from his home in Studio City, Calif. Indeed, people seem fascinated by the rift. Phil and Don still don't talk much offstage, and Don has been estranged from his mother, Margaret, and his two oldest children for years. But dig further into the past and you find that the Everlys have always gone their loner ways; they rarely played games together as children and generally weren't very close, sticking together only for the love of the music. "But there's a good aspect to it, too," Phil pointed out. "A tremendous amount of families have had that kind of split. We're a good example that if you have something negative going on with a brother or sister or what-have-you, talk about it. That was really the problem with us. We never did enough of that."

Of course, the brothers put all of that to rest in 1984 with the release of their acclaimed Dave Edmunds-produced comeback album, "EB 84," and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years later. Much to his credit, Phil isn't the sort of Hall-of-Famer who hates to look back. "Not a chance of that," he said. "Those early years ... that was about as much fun as you could have as a kid. It was like going to college with a bunch of rock 'n' roll stars. It's the Golden Age, you know? We toured by bus and I was 19, running around with Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran and everyone else. We were all the best of friends. It was fantastic." And he'll speak at length about any song you want, picking "Let It Be Me" as his favorite.

At the same time, he hasn't gone deaf to modern sounds. "I sometimes think great, durable songs with timeless lyrics have fallen by the wayside, but then you hear a song like (he sings) 'What if God was one of us?' - and you just go, 'Whoa!' " Still, the Everly Brothers have been fairly inactive as far as new material goes. Recording since the '84 comeback has been very limited - only 1985's winning "Born Yesterday" and 1988's "Some Hearts" have followed - and the brothers seem to have settled into a pattern of occasional reunions for about three months or so out of the year, mostly spent in Vegas, the rest of the time spent apart with little, if any, contact.

Phil says he and his fiancee, Patti, mostly keep busy now with wedding plans, while Don, inspired by his life in Nashville with his fourth wife, Adela, is thinking of recording solo again. I know it, then: This is my chance. I didn't want to see them in anything larger than a club anyway - and when Phil tells me, "I don't know if we'll do it another year, another day or nothing at all; there are no hard, fast rules," I get anticipatory chills thinking this may be my only chance. It will come as no surprise that I hold the group in the highest regard. Sure, they had their share of misses, and by the late '60s it was almost embarrassing how much they didn't fit in with the sound of the times. But they are still the genuine article - and from what people who have seen them recently tell me, they still sound amazing.

So I bristle when Phil utters this sort of, um, hogwash: "I don't think we're the epitome of anything." Excuse me ... what?! It's an old routine - fob off your importance as no big deal. Legends use it to look more like average Joes. I'm not buying it. "Look, harmony is wonderful, you know, but anyone can do it. We're not the only ones," he explained. Then why still do it? Why after all these years, if so many others have supposedly bested what you've done, why keep heading out on tour? What's left to prove? There's silence at first. I didn't mean it to come out that way, of course. I meant it to sound more like, "How do you keep those songs sounding fresh after all this time?" or maybe just "How do you keep doing it?" Nothing too fawning, but something polite. Phil's polite. Too polite. My countenance of his modesty is the sort of trick you pull on someone who's either whitewashing their history or is getting way too full of himself. And Phil ... er, Mr. Everly, was doing neither. It wasn't so much false modesty on his part as it was a stupid question on mine. But he let me off easy. He simply turned the tables and asked me some similarly obvious questions.

And regardless of what most cocky writers would have you think, when this sort of thing happens - and happens right - it can humble you. "Listen, you ever sing with someone?" he asked. "Yes." "What was that like?" "Like sex." "Pretty incredible, right?" "Yup." "It's a fantastic feeling. That's what I still enjoy. I've always enjoyed that. I like hanging out with the boys, too" - and here he reminds me that he's playing with some of the best, including Albert Lee on guitar and pedal-steel master Buddy Emmons, and how it's like one extended family - "but mostly I just like singing." "And they keep throwing money at us so we keep going. Look, we're just lucky that people remember what we did. There's an art to what we do. I see that. But, really, we just stand up and deliver a good time. That's all."


LIFE'S A BREACH
May 12, 1999
Life's a Breach

Everlys Remain Distant in Private but Continue Their Onstage Harmony to
Show They Still Have It

By MIKE BOEHM, Times Staff Writer


Don Everly's enthusiasm for creating new music in the bosom of his family has been rekindled, but it's as an Everly husband, not an Everly Brother. His Hall of Fame partnership with younger brother Phil continues--the two will play extremely rare small-club concerts Friday and Saturday in Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano. But speaking from his home in Nashville recently, Don, 62, said he doubts their artistically scintillating but personally strained relationship will yield any new songs or recordings (their last album together, "Some Hearts . . .," dates from 1988).

Don, the darker-haired lead singer, and Phil, whose soaring harmonies complete one of the most instantly recognizable and influential twinnings of two voices in recording history, still tour together for three or four months a year, playing shows in which Don says the chief point is to prove they've still got it. But Don, a folksy, open talker, says his spark has been lit again for making new music in the old-fashioned way taught to him by his father, Ike.

For that, he credits his fourth wife, Adela, a 30-year-old woman he met five years ago in a Nashville musicians' bar. She and her twin sister had come to Nashville from Texas to make their way as country songwriters. "She inspires everything I do now, every move I make," Everly said. "I was hanging out with other songwriters, drinking and carousing around. I think it was 'cause I was bored. "Now my life's opened up. I'm playing the guitar, writing songs. We hang out in the kitchen and get the guitars out and sing. When Adela came into my life, all of a sudden the guitars got into tune and there was recording equipment. It brought me back." Everly said he bought his wife a Fender Telecaster for Christmas 2 1/2 years ago and began playing it himself, relearning the finger-picking techniques handed down by his father, who is said to have influenced Merle Travis, who in turn influenced Chet Atkins, who in turn inspired George Harrison as well as most of the pickers in Nashville. "It's been very rewarding to rediscover at this time of my life," Everly said. And it may lead to his first recording project since the Everly Brothers' three-album comeback in the '80s that ended a thaw in which they barely spoke to each other for 10 years.

Everly said his friend Dan Goodman heard his new, folksy stuff, much of it focusing on his home state of Kentucky, and proposed a Kentucky-roots project akin to Los Super Seven, the acclaimed tejano all-star band Goodman helped organize last year with Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Joe Ely and others. "This project's close to my heart," said Everly, who grew up mainly in Iowa, but was born in rural Kentucky and was steeped in the mountain-music traditions of his father. "I can't mention the other people involved [because] there haven't been any contracts [signed]. But a lot of people from Kentucky made music, and I hope we can get together." Part of being an Everly Brother is being asked repeatedly how the duo that harmonizes so tightly gets along away from the stage lights.

Fans who hear the inspired vocal blend that was a crucial influence for the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and many others want to believe, no doubt, that life imitates art when it comes to brotherly closeness and cooperation. "Wherever I go, it's 'Are you still mad at each other?' I say, 'Do you have a family? Do you have a brother?' "--the point being that the Everlys' frictions and differences are commonplace. And most siblings were not joined at the hip from childhood--as Don and Phil Everly almost literally were as they shared a single microphone. "We give each other a lot of space," Don said with a chuckle. "We say hello, we sometimes have a meal together" while on tour. In fact, Don said, outside of music, he and Phil have always gone their own ways. He can't remember playing childhood games together--only music. Don said he and Ike Everly enjoyed father-son hunting outings; Phil didn't join them. Phil was into sports during his school days, going out for basketball and track--an interest Don didn't share. "Everything is different about us, except when we sing together," Don said. "I'm a liberal Democrat, he's pretty conservative."

Don Everly knew from age 8, when he first performed as "Little Donny" on his father's radio show in Iowa, that he wanted to be a musician and appear on the Grand Ole Opry. The Everly Brothers, who had finished school in Knoxville, Tenn., moved to Nashville in 1955 at the behest of Chet Atkins, a friend of their father. Success came in 1957, when "Bye Bye Love" launched a streak of 15 Top 10 hits over the next five years. The Everlys drew on outside songwriters--notably Boudleaux and Felice Bryant--for many of their classics. But Phil, with "When Will I Be Loved," and Don, with "('Til) I Kissed You," "Cathy's Clown" and "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" also made indelible contributions as songwriters. Rhino Records' 1994 four-disc box set, "Heartaches & Harmonies," is the essential, comprehensive Everlys collection. Life wasn't as sweet as the Everlys' sound, however.

There were frequent disputes with business handlers, and during the early '60s, Don became addicted to a cocktail of drugs prescribed as a pick-me-up to help with the grind of touring. It led, in 1962, to an attempted suicide by overdose in a London hotel room. "I was so high, I didn't know what I was doing," he recalled. "I didn't
want to continue where that [prescription drug] experience was going. I was beginning a long tour in England, and they sent me over with all these bottles and needles. It left a hole in my soul, and it nearly left me for dead. With drugs, it takes away all intellect and you become dependent and controlled. It's terrible. I'm lucky to be alive." Everly's bon vivant ways may have saved him when he was living in Los Angeles in the late '60s; he had two girlfriends at the time, and one got an invitation to a party at the home of film director Roman Polanksi. Everly was otherwise booked for the night--with his other girlfriend. Girlfriend No. 1 also didn't attend the gathering, which was infamously crashed by Charles Manson and his clan of murderous followers. The Everly Brothers' one inescapable public disaster took place at Knott's Berry Farm in July 1973. The hits had long since dried up, and Don, weary of the grind and fed up with the personal erosion of their 25-year partnership, gave two weeks' notice that he was through as an Everly Brother. A Knott's engagement was the last the brothers were contracted to
fulfill. Instead of ending on a bittersweet note, they blew up: Don was drunk on tequila (violating one of the strictly followed professional tenets his father had taught them), Phil smashed his guitar against the stage and stormed off, and the older brother was left to complete the late show on his own after sobering up between sets.

The Everlys reunited in 1983 and came up with two strong mid-'80s albums, "EB84" and "Born Yesterday." The first included "On the Wings of a Nightingale," a song Paul McCartney wrote for the occasion. "Born Yesterday," one of the best releases of 1985, featured Don Everly's poignant title track, with its oblique references to what it's like to go through a fracturing relationship played out in the public eye: People see you and they turn their heads, Whisper words you might have said. Point to a spot where you may have bled, Then they write it on a wall.

But Everly doesn't flinch from talking about the troubling relationships in his family. He has been estranged from his mother, Margaret, since his father's death in 1975; he also has no contact with his two oldest children. He remains in touch with son Edan, a professional musician who joined him a year or two back to sing in a benefit concert for Kentucky flood victims, and with daughter Erin, a former model best known for a turbulent and--she later contended in a lawsuit--abusive relationship with rocker Axl Rose, who wrote the Guns N' Roses hit "Sweet Child O' Mine" about her. Erin is with "a really nice man" now and "seems to be really happy and secure," Everly said. Two years ago, she gave birth to his first grandchild, a boy named Eason Everly.

Everly said he and his brother, who has lived in Los Angeles for years, have too many musical differences to attempt new recordings. "Enthusiasm is all, and he isn't as interested in the Nashville thing as I am." He thinks that, if anything, their touring will wind down in the coming years. "I shouldn't say 'never' [about further recording work]. If the right song or the right opportunity came along . . . ." What motivates them now, he said, is proving they still can do justice to songs that demand some of pop's most beautiful harmonies while finding ways to improvise and keep the repertoire fresh. "That's one part where being brothers makes a difference. It's just
instinct," Everly said. "That's the charm of what the Everly Brothers are: two guys singing as one. I want people to leave there thinking: 'Whoa, it's still happening, it's still good.' "

Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved

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