Arts & Entertainment
Thursday's Top Tune Throwback: The Everly Brothers' "Crying in the Rain"
One of the greatest duos in America’s musical history had its roots in Kentucky and eventually Nashville. Don and Phil Everly’s legacy to the music industry is still being enjoyed by many as their hit records will forever be “golden.”
The Everly brothers’ influence even extended to the Beatles as the musical arrangement for “Please Please Me” was influenced by their 1960 No. 1 hit “Cathy’s Clown.” This song which sold eight million records was their leading hit.
Speaking of No. 1 hit songs, Don and Phil had four in all, starting in 1957 with “Wake Up Little Susie” and adding two more in 1958 “All I Have To Do Is Dream” and “Bird Dog.” They had 26 Top 40 hits, including two second place finishes to join their four number ones.
“Crying in the Rain,” our featured song this week, reached No. 6 on Billboard. This classic co-written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King remains my personal favorite. Another one of their hits that has left a lasting impression on me is “Till I Kissed You,” written by Don, and reaching No. 4 on the pop charts. Their first million seller “Bye Bye Love” was a No. 2 smash that had been previously rejected by some 30 artists.
Between 1957 and 1962, the Everly Brothers were as big as anyone on the music scene and in 1957 and 1958 they toured with Buddy Holly. In 1986, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and then in 2001, they were also included in the Country Music Hall of Fame, a rare combination. The brothers are best known for their steel string acoustic guitar and vocal harmony complementing their superior songwriting skills. Don and Phil Everly: two of the greatest to ever grace the American and world music scene.
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
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Anonymous
November 16, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Hear, hear! Don and Phil are forever etched into the great American music scene. Wake up Little Susie was my favorite.
Sharon K
November 26, 2017 at 8:10 am
The Everly Brothers continued to record great music , well into the 1980s. Their “Roots” album is amazing, that record and “Born Yesterday” are albums I still play several times a week.