Today is Don Everly’s birthday. You know, Don Everly of the famous “Everly Brothers,” Don and Phil. They got a large chunk of the audience that followed Elvis and the Beatles in the Fifties and Sixties.

Our paths crossed when we were all kids. Well, I was about 7 years older than Don and 9 years older than Phil. The place was Shenandoah, Iowa in 1948 on Radio Station KMA. Their parents, Ike and Margaret, sort of took me into their family. I was an 18-year old a thousand miles away from home. Margaret occasionally cooked a chicken dinner on Sunday and had Ike invite me over for the meal and then to spend the day. It was fun wrestling with Donnie and Phil, who were then 10 and 12 respectively. Sometimes, I’d just chase them around the yard, playing “hide and seek.” They were great kids. I was so proud of them later when they hit it big with their Columbia records.

The Everlys first major hit was “Bye, Bye Love,” written by Boudleaux and Felix Bryant. Not only did this song hit #1 in the country market, but spilled over in a big way into the pop field. It enjoyed a 22 week run on the pop charts, peaking at #2!

“The release of ‘Bye Bye Love’ sent The Everly Brothers spiraling towards stardom and, on May 11, 1957, the boys fulfilled a lifelong dream by appearing on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. When they sang ‘Bye Bye Love,’ they got a huge ovation from the crowd of 4,000 and Roy Acuff had to call them back to take a bow.”

The hits kept coming after that: “Wake Up Little Susie,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” were two of the greatest in my estimation.

Well, I could tell you more about these “kids,” but they have a wonderful website that has their full biography. Why don’t you go there and pay them a visit. Just click here.

Dusty Owens
TCM Radio News