Like the rest of the rock universe, I was very sad to learn of the death of the younger Everly, Phil Everly, Friday January 3rd, 2013 but other than that I can’t think of anything to add to the story except what everybody else has already told you. Lennon and McCartney, Simon And Garfunkel, Brian Wilson and brothers, all learnt how to sing close harmony from the duo, whose boying good lucks and tremendous country pop nascent rock songs garnered them 35 # 1 hit singles.
All their Cadence material is a must but more than that, so many songs: “Cathy’s Clown”, “Till I Kissed You”, “Wake Up Little Suzy”… on and on, they are the lexicon of rock love songs.
On top of which they were country stars who covered the greats and wrote some of their own standards.
Despite drug problems and intense bitter disputes, the Everly Brothers had one successful reunion after another. I saw them playing a set in the middle of the Simon And Garfunkel reunion at MSG in 2004, and though they only sang six songs (and one with S&G) it remains a highlight of my concert going life.
The outpouring of love for Phil as news of his passing has spread is not a surprise but Don had the last word: “”Our love was and will always be deeper than any earthly differences we might have had. The world might be mourning an Everly Brother, but I’m mourning my brother Phil.” That bond manifested itself in two voices always together and sounding as one.