Don Everly - January 19, 1939 to August 21, 2021

[Jim Fogarty]

Very sad to hear that Don Everly passed at 84 years old, at his home in Nashville. A very talented, troubled soul who helped influence millions. No cause of death given.

Here's a great Don solo track, from his 1977 solo album "Brother Jukebox".....with Buddy Emmons killing it, on steel.

https://youtu.be/khp0OqUmEYw

[Ken Byng]

Oh wow. Don and Phil were such giants of 20th century contemporary popular music. I saw them at my local theatre in Southampton, England, and they had Buddy Emmons in the band. They were just great, and had real down home personalities. Don in particular had a very warm personality, and was really proud of the musicians behind him and Phil. I honestly believe that if it wasn't for the Everly Brothers, The Beatles wouldn't have existed.

RIP Don.

[Chris Templeton]

I saw Buddy with the Everly's at the North Shore Music Theatre, in Massachusetts, around 1990 and the first or second Batman movie had come out.
I think Buddy had been playing the Batman theme, because we went to get a milkshake before soundcheck and when we returned, a roadie had put a life-sized cardboard Batman picture sitting at Buddy's seat.
Here's Buddy looking a little perplexed:

RIP Don Everly, a hero to many.

[Bruce Heffner]

it seems these days the music dies every day, so sad to see

[Larry Dering]

Oh my. Huge influence on my youth. Sad to lose another of the greats. RIP Don.

[Bruce Heffner]

it seems these days the music dies every day, so sad to see

[Jack Stoner]

He is reported to be 84, so born in 1937, not 1939.

[Craig Stock]

RIP Don, I also got to see Phil and Don twice, Buddy was with them both times and hung out with a small group of us for a couple of hours after the show.

[Chris Templeton]

Deleted

[Joachim Kettner]

From the last Everly Brothers album and written by him. RIP Don.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOOLQ8G0Mg

[Tony Prior]

A legacy that will never fade. Don and Phil "were" the music for a good many of us and may very well have been the inspiration to pursue any music at all.

Before I even contemplated playin guitar, my sister and I would sit in our basement and sing Everly Brothers songs in harmony.

Bye Bye Love wasn't just a song, it was an awakening.

RIP Don

[Pete Finney]

My favorite Don Everly with Emmons collaboration from the pre-reunion solo era, from Don's Sunset Towers album in 1974.

I read somewhere that Don had Emmons in mind when he wrote this. I feel fortunate to have gotten to see one of many low-key club gigs in Nashville where Buddy and Don played together, as well as a few of the Everly Brothers concerts with Buddy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAjWhh9nGIE

[Chris Templeton]

Thanks for posting that, Pete.
Beautiful.

[Will Houston]

Wow, thats a big one gone. I've had my Roots album out on display the last week or so, guess I'll be listening to that today.

[Craig Stock]

What a great song Pete, so many things to absorb keeps things interesting for me.

[Andy DePaule]

So many good people have passed. Really a sad milestone.
First time I ever got up the nerve to ask a girl to dance, it was to Cathy's Clown played on one of those portable 45rpm players at a teen party.
So many great tunes from the Everly Brothers with their unique harmonies.
Well they will be rocking up a storm in heaven tonight.

[Delbert Phelps]

R.I. P. Don you guys were a big part of our lives .Sad news seems to come every day !!

[Don Sulesky]

"So Sad"...Also one of their songs, with a cover by LLoyd Green...playing guitar in the late 50's I bought their song book and learned every song in it. Played most of them in bands to this day.

[Earl Hensley]

I have some great memories of Don and Phil. We did a tour with them back in the mid 60s and stayed friends for years after. Phil with my Tele'. Well heaven has some great singers. RIP my friends, you will be missed.

[Jon Zimmerman]

They sang the soundtracks of my life, in a perfect, soulful blend. As I would listen on an Olds, or Chevy AM radio, I grew up, ..and decided that if two Kentucky brothers could survive all the ordeals in the music, then so could I. And now, they both can rest as the music lives on, and breathes, with a style and power all its own.

[FRANK MARIANO]

I had the pleasure to have met Don At Mauds Courtyard in Nashville back in the 80’s.
We sat at the bar and discussed music and how much He and Phill had such an impact on me, we bonded that day and we laughed when we discovered we were both born Feb 1st., I’m so heart broken, RIP my brother

[Dave Mudgett]

Another great one gone. The Everlys harmonies defined rock and roll harmony forever. RIP Don.

[Chris Templeton]

This is an audio recording of Buddy with the Everly Brothers and the steel is where we like it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYgTl_beFY8

[Ron Pruter]

Loved them both. Interesting fact. They were both left handed. Thought guitar by their right handed father, Ike.

[Roger Rettig]

Chris T: Many, many thanks for that audio tape from Central City!

I got to see the show many times (thanks to Albert getting me in!) and I never quite got used to how much difference Buddy's parts made to the overall impact of the performance. The steel sounds huge!!!

Having said that, I don't think I noticed (before now) what Emmons played on 'Bowling Green'; that was terrific. And his solo on 'T For Texas' was blistering.

I really enjoyed that, as much for Don's absolutely free-spirited vocals. There was no holding him back when he gave rein to his imagination. Rest in peace, Don Everly - you were a great singer!