BLOOD HARMONY

 Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story, by Barry Mazor, 2025, 416 pgs. 

Finally, a much needed bio about two of the most influential singers in 1950s popular music. The Everly Brothers--Don and Phil-- got an early start thanks to their parents, especially their father Ike, who was in his won right a guitar wiz who showed Merle Travis how to thumb pick. This is well-written and extensively researched; it doesn't get more definitive than this. But I think you've got to be a real fan of the group. As far as music bios go, there's not a lot of action here. Out of the two, Don seems to be the creative force but also the one mostly on edge. I was flabbergasted to learn he was married 4 times. He would get deep into a relationship, get married, have kids and then meet someone else and start all over. Phil (the younger brother) was more easy going and care free. Their parents would work to get them on radio shows as a singing family, eventually realizing that the two brothers could sing well enough for themselves. As they started writing their own songs and working to get them published, their youthful good looks and tight harmonies brought teens and girls from all over the country to see them perform. Don was such a Bo Diddley fan that he borrowed a chunking-rhythm riff for the intro to Wake Up Little Susie. After that the boys were off and running. They reached critical mass in the 70s when they couldn't seem to stay in the charts and the brothers had had enough of each other, separating and not speaking for nearly a decade. They reunited in the 80s with some success and their influence solidified by groups like The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel. Still, a must read for one of the all time greatest vocal duos.