The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi:

I'm new to this forum, but I've been playing steel guitar since 1962.

I was born and bred in Birmingham, England, but have been living for the last 30 years in the San Francisco area,

Last January I was visiting some old friends in Birmingham, and I attended an Everly Brothers concert. During the intermission, Don Everly talked about how he had noticed that he hadn't come across any bands in England who had a steel guitarist. He asked how many people in the audience played pedal steel guitar. I put my hands up and he asked where I came from, and when I answered Oakland, California, he laughed.

For all the years I lived in England it seemed to me that Country-and-Western was more alive in England than it was in the U.S.A., so I hope I haven't given Don Everly a wrong impression. I was playing steel guitar in England for many years before I moved to California.

Why don't people in the U.S.A. acknowledge the Everly Brothers as one of the most influential country groups that ever played ?

Adding on from my previous notes... I don't know who played steel guitar and dobro on the Everly Brothers English tour, but he was a pleasure to listen to and really made the show.

Buddy Emmons played with them for a good while although I don't think he does any more. I saw Mr Emmons with them 5 years ago and all of us steel players there agreed Buddy was not having a good night. I bet that doesn't happen very often.

I never really thought of them as "country", probably because they got their airplay (where I grew up) on Top 40 radio and such. I never heard them spun on a "country" turntable. Likewise I can't say that I've heard them on XM-13 in the time I've subscribed (2+ years) either.
I have 3 of their records, & they made some great tunes.

Ray's right, hardly anyone would really classify them as a "country" duo. I think of them more as the original "country-rock" group, but their music was geared mostly to top-40 for the significant years of their career. They worked for decades without a steel, so that didn't help their country image, either!

They did some good stuff, though. There's something special about sibling harmony.

(Oops, double post.)
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 30 March 2006 at 04:01 PM.]</p></FONT>

The Everly's came from country roots, but when they got to their teenage years, they went for rock & roll like all the other teenager's at the time. They were a huge hit in 1959, 60 & maybe 61, but like most pop acts, their star faded. Even then though, they released "Songs our Daddy Taught Us"-very country & a year or two later another country release. When Rick Nelson, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Eric Andersen, Micheal Nesmith, The Byrds & all sorts of other folk & rock acts went "Country Rock" in the late 1960's, The Everly Brothers released a series of spectacular LP's that were very Country and spectacular-"Roots" & "Pass The Chicken & Listen" are must have's as far as I am concerned. I always thought Don was the more country oriented & Phil liked rock better. I saw them 5/6 years ago in New Jersey at a casino with Buddy Emmons & his playing was some of the best blending of steel & vocals I have ever heard. They opened with a medley including Kentucky & Bowling Green that almost made me cry. I am forever grateful I taped it-I've listened to it thousands of times. They may have never had any more hits since the early 60's, but their music has been solid ever since.

Their version of Kentucky will bring a tear to a glass eye,,,,,,they may not be "known" for country,,,but they can moan a country song,,,

Buddy's solo on "Kentucky" also will bring a tear to a glass eye. Jody.

let me state this..

I consider them to have been a huge influence on my musical journey...

not only Country..Music in general..

t

Chet Atkins had a lot to do with the Everly Brothers getting signed and even played guitar on some of their early cuts.
I think the early cuts were produced in Nashville.

"Boudleaux Bryant was a classical violinist but he loved country music... he played it and wrote it," says Chet who played guitar on The Everly Brothers' early recordings.

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.

In the spring of 1957 their producer, Archie Bleyer, proudly announced The Everlys' first Cadence label single with a half-page advertisement in Billboard magazine. In its April 20th issue, Billboard said, "The Tennessee teenagers have a distinctive, appealing sound and could click big in the Pop as well as C & W field."

They joined the Marines in 1961 together and served until 1962. Eleven years later, they parted company and pursued successful solo careers. Then, in 1983, they reunited with a long-awaited concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. What Don and Phil contributed to the world of rock 'n' roll has influenced everyone who has come after them, and they have received numerous awards and accolades in appreciation for their contribution.

The Chet Atkins connection was significant. It is noteworthy that the Everly Bothers' dad, Ike Everly was one of the hottest fingerstyle guitarists around when Chet was growing up. Chet often mentioned Ike as a major influence on his style.

As usual in success stories in music, once the Everlys had an 'in' with Chet, their talent took over. Their close harmony and writing and choosing some great tunes carried them through their careers. They are credited with having expanded the credibility of the Nashville recording industry by making hit rock 'n' roll records using Nashville musicians, producers, and studios.

They had their share of personal problems but their legacy in rock and country music is one to be proud of, IMHO.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

In those days, rock wasn't very separate from country. Conway Twitty moved into it very easily.

I love the Everly Brothers. Loved to sing along.

I use to play with Don on Tue nights at the Sundance Saloon in Calabasa back in the late 70's and early 80's. I started going there because Buddy was playing steel in the "Sundance" band as he was living in Los Angeles at the time. Tiny little place where the front row was just a table width away from the band. I use to get there early so I could get the seat right across the table from where Buddy would be setting up his guitar and just watched in amazement as he played as only he can. When Buddy moved back to Nashville, Ron Coleman - Don's longtime Bass player, who ran the "Sundance Band" ask me if I wanted the gig. Let's see, a change to play with Don Everly singing, Albert Lee playing guitar, Harold Hensley or Byron Berline on fiddle, and on and on, so of course I said yes.
The building is still there, but it's a fancy french resturant now, I miss the old days!
JE:-)>

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Emmons D10 8/4 P/P -75'
Fessenden SD-10 3/5
Zum SD-12 7/5 - 91'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400

Jim Eaton...that story is just too cool.
Buddy Emmons and Albert Lee in the same band...wow! Thanks for sharing. Wish there was some tape rolling in those days...

I saw the Everly's at the Horse Shoe in Shreveport, La, in 2000.

It was my only time to see "E" in person, but I totally blown away by these guys. This even though I known their work since the early '60'. To see them doing it "old school" in 2000 with "Big E" AND Albert Lee was an experience to end experiences.

They are the definition of "Road Performers"

just my $0.02 worth

Ricky...

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 112,Hilton Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Bo-Bro, Ibanez Auto-Wah, Regal Dobro

Like you, I've been an Everly Brothers fan ever since they started, but their live concert in Birmingham really blew me away. Apart from their sound it really showed them to be great instrumentalists. They played their hits, of course, but also a lot of country and folk material. They even had a little bluegrass, at which time their pedal steel guitarist switched over to Dobro.

Talking about their Dad, Ike Everly, does anyone know where you can find recordings of him? I understand that he was an established country singer, and with his wife and kids had a regular radio show, but the only recordings of them I've ever heard were soundbites on the Everly Brothers LP Roots.

There's not much I'm aware of

I've heard this one and noticed it's available on Amazon. Most of the guitar playing is reminiscent of acoustic Delta blues http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000EH9/102-8683963-3047351?v=glance&n=5174

Actually there were several hot fingerpicker contemporaries of Ike Everly. Mose Rager and Eddie Pennington (more of a Chet Atkins contemporary) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001L3LOU/102-8683963-3047351?v=glance&n=5174
were from the same area and there was also a West Virginia guy some have heard of named Merle Travis. Those were all Chet's early influences -- along with Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Blake, and some of the 'race records' his stepfather had.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 01 April 2006 at 10:37 AM.]</p></FONT>

The Everlys did a concert at London's Albert Hall in 1973, which was shortly before their public and acrimonious break-up at Knotts Berry Farm.

I won't soon forget that London show - they had Ike up there on stage with them and he played some great fingerstyle on his sunburst Gibson J-200.

He was a pioneer of that style.

Don and Phil, for me anyway, brought great musicality to rock'n'roll, and their recordings, featuring a virtual honour roll of guitar players (Chet, James Burton, Sonny Curtis, Hank Garland, Glen Campbell - plus Jimmy Day and Walter Haynes!) are amongst my most treasured possessions. To be able to see Buddy with them in later years (I've lost count of the 'comps' Albert treated me to!) was the icing on the cake.

I know there's that 1983 reunion concert on CD, but what a shame that the later band (with the Big 'E') didn't formally record their show.

The hours I spent trying to emulate what I heard on their discs were the bedrock of my musical training. There are no popular musicians that I hold in greater esteem.

Roger Rettig

Don't forget Don Peak who recorded and toured with them, his next gig was with Ray Charles.

Quite right, Jason - I omitted Don Peak! I saw him play with the Everlys in the early 1960s in London. I recall, too, that he went on to play with Ray after that.

One of my happiest musical memories, though, was seeing the Brothers in London with Sonny Curtis, Joe B. Maudlin and Jerry Allison (they were, of course, the post-1959 'Crickets') - I didn't know of Sonny then, but when he came in with that GREAT guitar-part on 'Love Is Strange (just like the 'Beat'n'Soul' recording), I almost passed out from the excitement!

This was the mid-1960s, and comparing the then-current crop of British 'beat groups' to what I was seeing with Don & Phil that night was almost embarrassing.

RR

Hi Alan, I'm another Born in "Brum".
Solihull..


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<SMALL>Steel players do it without fretting</SMALL>

I saw the Everly Brothers at the NCO club at Bitburg AB Germany around 1967.
They had a three piece band backing them up, Guitar, Bass and Drums.
I dont remember who those three guys were, but what great musicians.

Also saw the Everly's a few years ago in Tunica Mississippi with the Big E and Albert Lee. Man what a show. They were there on Thursday and Friday night, we only went on Friday. I could have kicked myself for not going both nights.

Jimmy

I used to LOVE the Everly Bros. - Grew up listening to them at my big sisters'dance parties. I always thought they were rock 'n roll. Guess I'll have to check & see if there are any recent CD's out there of them & give a listen. From what you all say, it would be worth it. Thanks for the heads-up.

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billy hughes fan
Billy Hughes
faron young's bigsby

I recommend Albert's CD Heartbreak Hill for anyone wanting to hear some of Mr.Emmons & Mr.Lee doing what they do so well!
JE:-)>