The Everly Brothers

USA, 1955–2014

Don and Phil Everly. Their close two-part harmonies became the blueprint for The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced The Everly Brothers and 9 artists The Everly Brothers influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Everly Brothers?

• The Delmore Brothers — The Everlys' close brother harmony continues the documented Delmore Brothers tradition of country duet singing.

Which artists did The Everly Brothers influence?

• Simon & Garfunkel — The Everly Brothers' two-part harmonies were the direct model for Simon and Garfunkel.
• The Hollies — The Everly Brothers were the blueprint for everything The Hollies did with harmonies.
• The Mamas & the Papas — The Everly Brothers' harmony style was expanded to four voices by The Mamas & the Papas.
• The Beatles — The Everly Brothers' two-part harmonies were the blueprint for the Lennon–McCartney vocal blend.
• Bee Gees — The Gibb brothers' blood-harmony singing descends directly from the Everly Brothers — the close-harmony tradition at the root of everything they did.
• The Byrds — The Byrds' signature vocal harmonies descend from the Everly Brothers — the close-harmony tradition McGuinn, Crosby and Clark built their blend on.
• Gram Parsons — The two-part harmony of the Flying Burrito Brothers is built on the Everly Brothers' blend.
• Paul Simon — Paul Simon learned harmony from the Everly Brothers — 'Simon and Garfunkel wouldn't have been Simon and Garfunkel without the Everly Brothers' — and their close-harmony ballad style runs through his songwriting.
• Harry Nilsson — Nilsson sang in an Everly Brothers-type duo before he recorded, and close two-part harmony stayed the centre of his multi-tracked vocal writing.