Phil Everly

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 4 Jan 2014 1:49 pm

Thanks, Craig - I'm glad now that someone snapped it!

He enjoyed the Gibson and I remember his remarks about the beauty of guitars and instruments in general; he said: "Some guys earn their living with a pick or a shovel - we get to use these..." It wasn't meant in a patronising way at all - he was just saying how lucky we were.

A nice man.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 4 Jan 2014 2:03 pm

That's pretty funny because I do make my living with a pick and shovel, I'm a landscape designer and contractor and take no offense to his comment.

I wish I had a small fraction of his talent, and appreciate anyone who masters his selected trade or profession.

There was a group that I saw at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to Jimmy Rogers that reminded me of the Everlys. They were the Delevantes, from Hoboken, Nj. They were also brothers and did the same harmonies. They broke up but brother Bob still lives and writes in Nashville. Wonder what he is up to these days.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 4 Jan 2014 2:11 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Voe_ntFHiQ
The Delevantes- 'Long about that time'

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 4 Jan 2014 3:52 pm

Roger Rettig wrote:Eden Studios in Chiswick, London. The track was 'God Bless Older Ladies' and I got to use my 1950 SJ-200. Here's Phil trying it out on a break...

Wow, you played on "God Bless Older Ladies"? I've listened to that song so many times since the album first came out, but I never thought I would ever communicate with someone who played on it. I'm honored.

When I read about Phil's death today it hit me like a plank of wood. This is terrible news. I'm so glad I got to see them at a concert in Birmingham, England, a few years back. They put on a great show. At one stage Phil said that he hadn't seen many pedal steel guitars in England during the tour, and asked the audience if anyone played one. I put my hand up and he asked where I was from. I responded "California" and he laughed.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 5 Jan 2014 3:17 am

I can still remember walking through Woolworth's store as a youngster with my mother, and this unbelievably energetic and dynamic track was coming out of the store's sound system. My mother went straight to the record section and asked them what the record was that was currently playing. It was the Everlys and Wake Up Little Susie, and my mother - always had the greatest of musical taste - bought it immediately and couldn't wait to get home and play it to my father.

Roger's reference to Martin Jenner is interesting. I knew Martin really well, and showed him a few things on E9. He dabbled (a kind phrase) on pedal steel, but being a left hooker found it difficult to locate a L/H guitar. Jerry Evenden made Martin a left handed Driftwood. I went to Jerry's house in Croydon, and Martin was there. Martin told me that he had blagged a spot on the Everlys Albert Hall reunion gig through his mate Albert Lee.

Years later I was playing lead guitar with a band in a pub in Bournemouth, and a couple of guys came up to speak. One of them was Martin, and while he was very complimentary about my playing, he was disappointed that I wasn't playing pedal steel. He told me that the Everlys gig was the high point in his career - even higher than being in Cliff Richard's band. I was sorry to learn of his untimely death a few years later, and I was asked to sell Martin's pedal steel that he had left in the UK.

Back to the Everlys and guitars, I was always amazed at the big sound those Everly model Gibsons could get when their soundboards were effectively covered in plastic. The last time that I saw Phil in action was over Christmas when he was playing the part of a backing musician in a Clint Eastwood movie supporting the appallingly bad Sondra Locke. He looked good in that movie, but one has to consider that it was made some 30 years or so ago.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 5 Jan 2014 6:41 am

New York Times video "Saying Goodbye to a Rock Icon"

http://www.nytimes.com/video/arts/music ... -icon.html

Rolling Stone: "Phil Everly's Life in Photos":

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictu ... s-20140104

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Jan 2014 6:43 am

An interesting story, Ken. I didn't know of your connection with Martin.

Do you remember his solid guitar made for him by Dick Knight? He used it on Cliff's gig a lot.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Jan 2014 6:46 am

Talking of Everly Brothers' guitars, I just posted this on the UMGF:

Initially, when the idea of a signature model was mooted, the plan was to build another version of the J-200 but with those famous double pickguards. Then the idea of using a smaller bodied guitar emerged and Gibson saw an opportunity to resurrect the J-185 (discontinued in the early '50s). The double pickguards were added for visual (if not sonic!!!) effect and, of course, the neck had the 'star' inlays.

Another odd decision was the 'pinless' bridge. The strings were fitted from the back of the bridge and didn't come through the top of the guitar at all. I'm not sure how much (if any) this might have restricted the instrument's resonance but it was peculiar to this model only in Gibson's range. They also made the body slightly thinner than the old 185.

The first two examples (finished in a unique cherry-sunburst) were built in 1962 and, naturally, went to the brothers. This pair of 'EB's can be seen on the sleeve of their 'Great Country Hits' LP of the same year (worth a listen for some fine solos from studio-player Glen Campbell!) After that the standard colour was black with mock-tortoiseshell 'guards. Altogether 488 were shipped, with the later guitars having natural tops with smaller 'guards.

(I traded my '63 J-200 for a 1964 Everly Brothers and, apart from the enjoyment I got from looking at myself in the mirror at home, I came to regret the move. I swapped the EB for a new D-28 in '67. I've played a few EBs and have never played a good one, early or late. This hasn't stopped them becoming iconic and very desirable - more to do with the Everly's music than the instruments themselves, I'm fairly sure!)

As 'Smeckman' said, the signature intros of those early hits were played on Don's Southern Jumbo and not, as often assumed, on a J-200. I've long thought that Don should be congratulated for his part in those sessions - it can't have been easy to remain assertive in a room full of Nashville 'A team' players, especially for a 20 year-old.

J-200s:
The Boys first played a pair of sunburst J-200s with standard 'guards. Then there was the grey pair with black 'guards, the all-black pair with black (laminate) 'guards (so the pickguard's shape could be clearly seen), and finally the black pair with cream 'guards. I've often wondered if the black-on-black and the cream-on-black J-200s were, in fact, the same pair with just new 'guards fitted but Don 'couldn't remember' when I asked him.

The Everly Brothers Model was resurrected in 1984 with the J-180. This version had bridge-pins and the original J-185 dimensions (depth) were restored. Too few of these were made! Watch the 'Concert For George (Harrison)' and Albert Lee is playing a black one with white guards. This is NOT, as some might assume, Don's old '58 J-200 (gifted to Albert by Don), but a Gibson J-180 owned by guitar-tech Alan Rogan and loaned to Albert for the gig.

B. Poyck of the Netherlands is in charge of the Owners' Club, by the way.

I feeling very sad after hearing of Phil's death. Their music has been a part of the fabric of my life and both Don and Phil have been an inspiration to me for well over fifty years.

Lee Dassow · Post by **Lee Dassow** » 5 Jan 2014 9:06 am

Look at the way there dressed! Always to the nines.
That's the way I used to make the gig scene back in the day. Tennessee Lee

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 5 Jan 2014 11:14 am

Roger Rettig wrote:An interesting story, Ken. I didn't know of your connection with Martin.

Do you remember his solid guitar made for him by Dick Knight? He used it on Cliff's gig a lot.

I vaguely remember it Roger (not Rodger as Phil erroneously signed the photo).

Wasn't it an SG type shape? Cliff used to openly criticise Martin for playing 'too loudly' on stage. This was in the I'm Nearly Famous era.

I was in the Sho-Bud shop in London one time, and Johnny Edmed had a Dick Knight Telecaster hanging on the wall, and the exquisite body was made of alder with birdseye maple laminate back & front with black binding. It looked, played and sounded just wonderful. I asked John how much it was, and he laughed and said "More than you can afford!". Dick Knight made better guitars at the time than Tony Zemaitis's off the wall designs in my opinion.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Jan 2014 11:19 am

Thanks, Ken. I had a jumbo made by Dick, and I also had his put bird's-eye veneer all over my '72 Telecaster! It looked great.

Do you know Roger McKew? He has an Esquire that Dick gave the bird's-eye treatment to.

Dick was wonderful and a very nice man. Peter Dyke (my early mentor) put me on to him when I was thinking of having some work done. I asked Pete what Sammy Lee ('luthier') was like and he replied:

"You mean the Butcher of Wardour Street???"

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 5 Jan 2014 11:39 am

Roger Rettig wrote:Thanks, Ken. I had a jumbo made by Dick, and I also had his put bird's-eye veneer all over my '72 Telecaster! It looked great.

Do you know Roger McKew? He has an Esquire that Dick gave the bird's-eye treatment to.

Dick was wonderful and a very nice man. Peter Dyke (my early mentor) put me on to him when I was thinking of having some work done. I asked Pete what Sammy Lee ('luthier') was like and he replied:

"You mean the Butcher of Wardour Street???"

I don't know Roger McKew. I just had a look at Dick Knight's bio, and didn't realise that he was relatively old back in the 1970's. I never had the privelige of meeting him, but his work was exemplary.

Here is Martin Jenner in a pic from the Everly's Albert Hall gig, plus another shot of Martin behind Albert, and Martin's pedal steel can be seen on the right.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 6 Jan 2014 9:05 am

I remember this concert on TV.
I grew up playing their music in the 50's.
Still have their first music book from that era.
Had the pleasure of meeting them in the early 60's.
It's then of another era in country music.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 7 Jan 2014 3:34 pm

My favorite Everly song, done by the son of someone else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cksWJFxvBGc

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 Jan 2014 3:48 pm

That's a nice version! A very good song that was almost thrown away as an Everly 'B' side.

Ron Pruter · Post by **Ron Pruter** » 11 Jan 2014 10:56 pm

Sad news. To me, these guys were always two of the coolest guys in the world. RP

Earl Hensley · Post by **Earl Hensley** » 26 Jan 2014 2:20 pm

Our tour with Don & Phil back in 65.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 26 Jan 2014 2:27 pm

Great photo, Earl!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Jan 2014 4:00 pm

Ral Donner, now there's a name you don't hear much lately. I guess we "didn't know what we got until we lost it".

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 31 Jan 2014 9:18 pm

On the other side, Phil, thanks for the GOOD ROCKIN' music.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 8 Feb 2014 1:46 am

The BBC broadcast a rather excellent documentary last night on the Everly's life story and included many of their family members. Dad, uncles, aunts, cousins and neighbours were all featured. The Ev's even went down a disused coal mine to get a feel for what their relatives had to go through. I suspect that the film was a repeat, but the introduction said that it was in memory of Phil. I will keep that film as it was highly fascinating.

The film was followed by a repeat of the Albert Hall concert. Don and Phil were on top form, and it's interesting to watch Phil never taking his eyes off his brother's face when they were singing. Little wonder that their vocals were so perfectly in synchronisation. They looked very happy that night. In contrast, Albert Lee looks very ill at ease or even plain nervous. There again it could have been Mart Jenner standing next to him playing his Telecaster. (One lead guitar too many?) Martin's steel playing did leave a lot to be desired bless him, and it must have been a big comedown for Don and Phil to go from having Buddy behind them to a relatively novice player. Martin's picking arm looked very uncomfortable as he was sitting too high, and really he should have stayed in his own comfort zone and stuck to the guitar as he was indeed a very fine player on lead guitar.

It would have been more sensible to get Gerry Hogan in on pedal steel. That would have made a world of difference.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Feb 2014 2:20 am

Matin Jenner on "So Sad":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajiivasUhdk
My hands would have frozen if I was on stage.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 8 Feb 2014 3:00 am

Watched the shows Last night that Ken posted about, brought back great memories.There will never be (in my opinion) anyone who can equal Phil and Don.Way back before I played steel I worked with two guys up here in Scotland who were the nearest thing to the Everly's sound I ever heard, Ian and Jim Mulholland, and strangely enough I worked with Ian again on Thursday after nearly thirty years.We did quite a few Everly numbers, but without brother Jim who lives in Canada.Agree with Ken ,they should have used Gerry on steel.If any of you guys missed these shows catch them again on BBC Iplayer, they are not to be missed.Condolences to Phil and Don's families.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 8 Feb 2014 4:49 am

Yes, Ken - an excellent film that was indeed a repeat. 'Songs of Innocence and Experience' was first shown in 1984 but it still stands up as an excellent tribute to the Everly Brothers.

I was swept up in the excitement of their reunion concert myself and, along with Gerry Hogan, attended a rehearsal at the Dominion, Tottenham Court Road. I saw both shows, too, and certainly enjoyed myself at the time. In retrospect, though, I can't say that it was as good as it might have been. It was all too heavy-handed for me with drums and bass amplified to stadium/rock venue levels. That's not what the Evs were all about.

I noticed Albert's apparent unease and also noticed that he never looked at Martin at all for the whole gig. I wonder why Martin (a fine player, as Ken says) was there and suspect that it was his association with the bass-player and drummer. All three were in Cliff Richard's band at the time. I've heard it suggested that Albert involved Martin in the gig but knowing his preferences (I've been in the unenviable position of being 'the other guy playing Tele' on stage with Albert) I'd be surprised if that was the case.

All in all I'm glad the reunion concert happened - it led to the Boys being on the road with Buddy and Albert, after all - but I can't think of it as their finest hour.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 8 Feb 2014 9:39 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:Matin Jenner on "So Sad":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajiivasUhdk
My hands would have frozen if I was on stage.

Great clip, with beautiful steel playing. Thanks for posting it.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Phil Everly

Every bros tour 1965