A couple of musician deaths this week.
Don Everly, half of
The Everly Brothers duo with his brother Phil, died Saturday in Nashville at age 84.
The very influential band was massive in the 50s and 60s, which such #1 hits as “Wake Up Little Susie”, “All I Have to Do Is Dream”, and “Problems”.
STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF DON EVERLY
As a singer, a songwriter and a guitar innovator, Don Everly was one of the most talented and impactful artists in popular music history," said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "His influence reverberates through songs like 'So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad),' 'I Wonder If I Care as Much,' and 'Cathy’s Clown,' through open tunings and rhythmic sensibilities that helped give rise to Keith Richards and many others, and through the ethereal harmonies he conjured with his brother Phil.
Of course, so many other musicians have added their statement in the passing of Don Everly. One of them is “American Pie” writer
Don McLean who talked about their influence on his hit song, “The Everly Brothers were every bit as popular as Elvis. However, like most rock acts, they were on a small record label. Cadence Records made a fortune but they were in no way able to compete with RCA which is where Col. Parker put Elvis. I met the Everly Brothers in 1969 and asked them about Buddy Holly. Phil said Buddy took the plane so he could do his laundry. I think Buddy had other laundry to do as well. This started my thinking for 'American Pie' which I wrote later. Additionally, Don was a great lead singer and unique rhythm guitar player. Almost all their hits featured his rhythm guitar.”
Next is
Tom T. Hall, a Hall of Fame singer/songwriter, famous for “Harper Valley PTA” and “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died”.
STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF TOM T. HALL
Tom T. Hall's masterworks vary in plot, tone and tempo, but they are bound by his ceaseless and unyielding empathy for the triumphs and losses of others," said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "He wrote without judgment or anger, offering a rhyming journalism of the heart that sets his compositions apart from any other writer. His songs meant the world to Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, George Jones and other greats, and those songs will continue to speak to generations. He was a storyteller, a philosopher, a whiskey maker, a novelist, a poet, a painter, a benefactor, a letter writer, a gift giver, a gentleman farmer and many more things. My bet is that we won't see the likes of him again, but if we do I'll be first in line for tickets to the show.
The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall talked about his time with Hall, “Back in 1978 when we sang at Mama Maybelle Carter’s funeral a saddened and shaken Johnny Cash walked up to the podium and asked Tom T. Hall to stand with him… Johnny said, “I draw strength from you, Tom!” Thank you Tom T. Hall for the songs and the strength you provided to so many … Rest Easy now and draw strength from the loving arms of Jesus… until the day.”
To keep track of all the musicians who died this year, head over to
Musicians Who Died in 2021.
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