View source for Phil Everly

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (1939–2014)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Phil Everly
| image             = Phil Everly.png
| caption           = Everly In 1958
| birth_name        = Phillip Everly
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1939|01|19}}
| birth_place       = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|2014|1|3|1939|1|19}}
| death_place       = [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], [[California]], U.S.
| genre             = Rock
| instrument        = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}
| occupation        = Musician
| years_active      = 1951–2007
| past_member_of    = [[The Everly Brothers]]
}}

'''Phillip Everly''' (January 19, 1939 – January 3, 2014) was an American musician, who was one half of the duo [[The Everly Brothers]] alongside his older brother [[Don Everly|Don]].

==Early life==
Phil was born in [[Chicago]] in 1939 to Isaac Milford "Ike" Everly Jr. (1908–1975), a guitar player, and Margaret Embry Everly (1919–2021). He was of [[Germans|German]], [[English people|English]] and [[Cherokee people|Cherokee]] descent.

The Everly family moved to [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], in 1953, where the brothers attended [[West High School (Knoxville, Tennessee)|West High School]]. In 1955, the family moved to [[Madison, Tennessee]], while the brothers moved to [[Nashville]]. Don had graduated from high school in 1955, and Phil attended [[Peabody Demonstration School]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Everly Brothers in Knoxville|website=Knoxfocus.com |url=https://www.knoxfocus.com/archives/everly-brothers-knoxville/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |language=en-US}}</ref> from which he graduated in 1957.

==Career==
===The Everly Brothers===
{{Main article|The Everly Brothers}}
The Everly Brothers Career started in 1951. They signed to [[Cadence Records]] In 1957. Their first hit was "[[Bye Bye Love (The Everly Brothers song)|Bye Bye Love]]", which had been rejected by 30 other acts. 
[[File:Everly Brothers - Cropped.jpg|thumb|Phil (left) with Don in 1958|left]]
"Bye Bye Love" went to no. 2 on the [[Popular music|pop]] chart, behind [[Elvis Presley]]'s "[[(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear]]", and No. 1 on the country and No. 5 on the [[R&B]] charts. The song, by [[Felice and Boudleaux Bryant]], became the Everly Brothers' first million-seller.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilliland |first=John |date=n.d. |title=Show 9 – Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 1] |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19757/m1/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=UNT Digital Library |language=English}}</ref>
[[File:Everly Brothers 1970.JPG|thumb|The Everly brothers in 1970]] The Everly Brothers are remembered for other major charting hits such as "[[Cathy's Clown]]" and "[[All I Have to Do Is Dream]]".

After the duo split following conflicts between the two brothers, Phil and Don pursued solo careers from 1973 to 1983. The brothers reunited at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[London]] on September 23, 1983, which ended their ten-year-long hiatus. The event was initiated by Phil and Don alongside [[Terry Slater (musician)|Terry Slater]], with [[Pete Wingfield]] as musical director. This concert was recorded for a live LP and video broadcast on cable television in mid-January 1984. The brothers returned to the studio as a duo for the first time in over a decade, recording the album ''[[EB '84]]'', produced by [[Dave Edmunds]].

The Everly Brothers were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1986. They were the first duo and non-solo act to have been inducted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Everly Brothers {{!}} Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/everly-brothers |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Rockhall.com}}</ref> That same year, they received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=This Day In 1986: The Everly Brothers get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame {{!}} Rhino |url=https://www.rhino.com/article/this-day-in-1986-the-everly-brothers-get-a-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Rhino.com}}</ref>
[[File:The Everly Brothers Hollywood Star.jpg|thumb|The Everly Brothers Hollywood Walk of Fame star]]

Their final charting single was 1986's "Born Yesterday". A 1981 live BBC recording of "All I Have to Do Is Dream", which featured [[Cliff Richard]] and Phil sharing vocals, was a UK Top 20 hit in 1994.

[[Paul McCartney]] has stated that the Everly Brothers were a major influence on [[the Beatles]]:<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2014-01-08 |title=McCartney Calls Phil Everly a 'Hero' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-pays-tribute-to-hero-phil-everly-178968/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=“They were one of the major influences on the Beatles. When John and I first started to write songs, I was Phil and he was Don.”}}

===Solo work===
Phil sang backup for [[Roy Wood|Roy Wood's]] 1975 album ''[[Mustard (album)|Mustard]]'' and two songs for [[Warren Zevon]]'s 1976 [[Warren Zevon (album)|self-titled album]].

While Zevon was part of Phil Everly's back-up band, Phil also suggested the title and subject matter for Zevon's breakthrough hit single "[[Werewolves of London]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plasketes |first=George |date=2016-06-28 |title=The Secret Inspiration Behind Warren Zevon's 'Werewolves of London' |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-secret-inspiration-behind-warren-zevons-werewolves-of-london-4a5fa337a7f1 |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Medium.com|language=en}}</ref>

Phil recorded more frequently, but with no chart success until the 1980s. He wrote "Don't Say You Don't Love Me No More", for the 1978 [[Clint Eastwood]] comedy film, ''[[Every Which Way but Loose]]'', in which he performed it as a duet with the film's co-star [[Sondra Locke]]. Phil also wrote "One Too Many Women In Your Life" for the 1980 sequel, ''[[Any Which Way You Can]]'', and played in the band which backed Locke.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-01-05 |title=Phil Everly obituary |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/05/phil-everly |access-date=2023-01-22 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 1983, Phil had UK success as a solo artist with the album ''Phil Everly'', recorded mainly in London. Musicians on the LP included [[Dire Straits]] guitarist [[Mark Knopfler]], Rockpile and Dire Straits drummer Terry Williams, and keyboard player Pete Wingfield. The track "She Means Nothing to Me", written and composed by [[John David Williams]] and featuring Cliff Richard as co-lead vocalist, was a UK Top 10 hit, and "Louise", written and composed by Ian Gomm, reached the Top 50 in 1983.<ref>{{Citation |title=Phil Everly – Phil Everly |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3645876-Phil-Everly-Phil-Everly|website=Discogs.com |date=1983 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alan Cackett – Phil Everly |url=https://alancackett.com/phil-everly |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=Alancackett.com}}</ref>

In 1990, Phil recorded a duet with the Dutch singer [[René Shuman]]. "On Top of the World" was written and composed by Phil, who appeared in the music video they recorded in Los Angeles. The selection appeared on Shuman's album, ''Set the Clock on Rock''.

Everly stopped performing in 2007.

==Personal life==
Everly was married three times: first to Jacqueline Alice Ertel from 1963 to 1970, then Patricia Mickey from 1972 to 1978, and finally Patrice Arnold from 1999 until his death. He had two children, sons Jason and Chris.

==Death==
Phil Everly died in [[Burbank, California]] on January 3, 2014, aged 74,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Everly dies aged 74 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/phil-everly-everly-brothers-vocal-legend-dead-at-74-232301/|website=Rollingstone.com|date=4 January 2014 }}</ref> from [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Schmitt |first=Brad |title=Phil Everly's widow shares the pain of his COPD death |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2014/10/27/phil-everlys-widow-shares-pain-copd-death/18010401/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |newspaper=[[The Tennessean]] |language=en-US}}</ref> His brother Don died in August 2021, and the Everly family matriarch, Margaret Embry Everly, died four months later in December, aged 102.

Phil's widow, Patti, blamed her husband's death on his smoking habit, which caused him to develop COPD; she recounted Phil's spending his final years having to carry oxygen tanks with him wherever he went and taking 20 different medications per day.<ref name=":0" />

Paul McCartney posted about Everly's death on social media, stating:<ref name=":2" />

{{Blockquote|text=“Phil Everly was one of my great heroes, with his brother Don, they were one of the major influences on the Beatles. When John and I first started to write songs, I was Phil and he was Don. Years later, when I finally met Phil, I was completely star-struck and at the same time extremely impressed by his humility and gentleness of soul. I will always love him for giving me some of the sweetest musical memories of my life.”}}

In a 2010 interview, [[Magne Furuholmen]], keyboardist of [[a-ha]], talked about the group's connection to the Everly Brothers and why a-ha released a cover of [[Crying in the Rain]] in 1990:
{{Blockquote|text=“Our manager Terry Slater had played bass for the Everly Brothers during the ’60s and was a close personal friend of Phil Everly. He also managed them during their comeback at the Royal Albert Hall in 1984 where we met the Everlys for the first time. Next Christmas they presented a-ha with three Everly Brothers guitars made from the same tree! Being huge Beatles fans, growing up and knowing how influential the Everly Brothers had been for the early Beatles’ sound, we thought that it would be a nice tribute to cover one of their hits.”}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vg.no/i/PMjW5|title=A-ha sørger over Phil Everlys død|date=January 4, 2014|website=Vg.no|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://a-ha-live.com/|title=a-ha live|website=A-ha-live.com|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

Upon Phil Everly's passing, a-ha stated on their official website that:

{{Blockquote|text=“«I'll do my crying in the rain»
– We were lucky enough in our lives to know Phil Everly a little, and we hope some of his dry humor and generosity have rubbed off on us all. His sweet voice will be sorely missed.
– A big branch has fallen, but together, or apart, the Everly Brothers have contributed to music that continues to inspire and fascinate new generations of music lovers all over the world.”}}

==Discography==
===Everly Brothers===
{{Main Article|The Everly Brothers discography}}
[[File:Everly_Brothers_in_1965.jpg|thumb|The Everly Brothers In 1965]]

===Solo===
====Albums====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! style="width:14em;"| Title
! style="width:18em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''Star Spangled Springer''
| 
* Release date: June 1973
* Label: RCA Records
|-
! scope="row"| ''Phil's Diner''
| 
* Release date: December 1974
* Label: [[Pye Records]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Mystic Line''
| 
* Release date: October 1975
* Label: Pye Records
|-
! scope="row"| ''Living Alone''
| 
* Release date: August 1979
* Label: Elektra Records
|-
! scope="row"| ''Phil Everly''
| 
* Release date: April 1983
* Label: Capitol Records
|}

====Singles====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:22em;"| Single
! colspan="5"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="45"| [[Hot Country Songs|US Country]]
! width="45"| [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|US AC]]
! width="45"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN Country]]
! width="45"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]
! width="45"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1973
! scope="row"| "God Bless Older Ladies<br />(For They Made Rock & Roll)"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"| ''Star Spangled Springer''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[The Air That I Breathe]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1974
! scope="row"| "Old Kentucky River"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"| ''Phil's Diner''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1975
! scope="row"| "New Old Song"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Words in Your Eyes"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"| ''Mystic Line''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1979
! scope="row"| "Living Alone"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"| ''Living Alone''
|-
! scope="row"| "You Broke It"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1980
! scope="row"| "[[Dare to Dream Again]]"
| 63
| 9
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
| 1981
! scope="row"| "Sweet Southern Love"
| 52
| 42
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1982
! scope="row"| "Louise"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 47
| align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Phil Everly''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1983
! scope="row"| "Who's Gonna Keep Me Warm"
| 37
| —
| 40
| —
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "[[She Means Nothing to Me]]" <small>(with [[Cliff Richard]])</small>
| —
| —
| —
| 39
| 9
|-
! scope="row"| "Sweet Pretender"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 79
|-
| 1992
! scope="row"| "On Top of the World" <small>(with [[René Shuman]])</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
| 1994
! scope="row"| "All I Have to Do Is Dream" <small>(with Cliff Richard)</small>
| —
| —
| —
| 93
| 14
|-
| colspan="8" style="font-size: 8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|-
|}

==References==
<references />

==See also==
* [[Don Everly]]
* [[The Everly Brothers]]
* [[List of songs recorded by the Everly Brothers]]

{{The Everly Brothers}}{{1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Everly, Phil}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung disease]]
[[Category:Singers from Chicago]]
[[Category:People from Shenandoah, Iowa]]
[[Category:Singers from Iowa]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Cherokee descent]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Iowa]]
[[Category:Writers from Chicago]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps reservists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Chicago]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Iowa]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American country guitarists]]
[[Category:American acoustic guitarists]]
[[Category:American rockabilly guitarists]]