Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Don Everly dies at age 84

Montage by Marco Rens

Earlier today, the media announced Don Everly's death at age 84. This rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was part of The Everly Brothers with his brother Phil who passed away in 2014. 

Will Hoebee and Don Everly

Don and his younger brother Phil were in the first group to be inaugurated in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, alongside Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. Their family harmonies set them apart, as did an out-of-time gentleness: the Everly Brothers’ well-crafted songs floated between country and city and moved with the rhythms of a dream.

In a five-year span from 1957 to 1962, they had 15 top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, among them: “Bye Bye Love”, which launched them; “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” written by Boudleaux Bryant; and “Cathy’s Clown,” which was a No. 1 hit in 1960 and a No. 1 country hit for Reba McEntire in 1989.

Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers

Their harmonies influenced the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s, and a decade later, their Appalachian roots inspired country rockers like Gram Parsons and Linda Ronstadt, who had a hit covering their “When Will I Be Loved” in 1972.

The Everly Brothers were among José Hoebee's musical heroes and inspirations. The former Luv' singer mentioned them in interviews. On July 1st, 2014, as she talked to Sonja van Stek on her radio show "Lunchpakket" on Bingo FM, José said that she dreamt of recording a duet with Don Everly. 

Read the article posted on July 1st, 2014: All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): José: interview on Bingo FM (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)

"Don once performed in the Netherlands. He went solo as he was not on speaking terms with Phil. Fortunately, they were reconciled later. Don knew Will (Hoebee) from Nashville, where he recorded music with Saskia and Serge and invited us to his concert in the Netherlands. We even saw him backstage. What a pity we don't have pictures of this moment. I've always been a huge fan of The Everly Brothers," José told Marco Rens and me when asked to react to Don's passing.  

Montage by Marco Rens

Our condolences go to Don's family, friends and fans. 

Source: The Guardian, Rolling Stones, Los Angeles Times, Marco Rens...