Greetings Sunny Buddies,
I was born in 1951, a post-war baby boomer LOL!
Over my life, one constant for me has been popular music. It filled our home from as early as I can remember. Like many of my generation, my parents were into 'East Listening'. I was raised to the music of 'crooners' like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Doris Day and Perry Como.
When I was born, there was still rationing here in Great Britain. It was a time of recovery from the second world war's hardships and rebuilding lives. People desired things to be better. Exhausted by five years of uncertainty and deprivation, the easy listening genre was part of a calling for rest and recovery.
Towards the end of the decade, as is often the case, my generation wanted to find its own musical identity. This was signalled by the arrival of 'shocking' rock'n'roll music.
It really was 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' for the older generation!
I had always thought that Elvis was the earliest proponent of rock'n'roll music. However, I recently watched a BBC programme on the Everly Brothers called Harmonies from Heaven. I was surprised to learn that The Everly Brother's music actually heralded rock'n'roll's arrival.
In the late '50's Don and Phil bridged the 'black' R&B genre and 'white' country music. They crossed a cultural divide and brought something so novel that it continues to this day. Their creativity directly influenced Elvis and a host of 1960's musicians. Simon and Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Hollies, The Rolling Stones, and many more.
Paul McCartney said their music echoed through his mind. He also said that he and John Lennon pretended they were The Everly Brothers, "When John and I first started to write songs, I was Phil, and he was Don'.
Bob Dylan said, "We owe these guys everything – they started it all'
Not only did they have great singing voices, but their guitar playing was also considered revolutionary. Keith Richards hailed Don as one of the best rhythm guitar players he had ever heard.
If you want to hear them play and sing, please double-click on the image below.
Linda Ronstadt said 'they had that sibling sound'. That struck a chord with me. I wonder if the information in our DNA is carried into our voices. It seems to me that you can get vocal sounds with the family that are not so possible for people who are not blood-related. There is a blending of vibrato and tone that is unique. Don Everly once said, 'It's like a third person. When Phil and I sing, there are times that what comes out is not either of us, but the voice of a third person.'
During my teenage years, I sang in a Scottish folk group. Then in the 1970s, my sister and I joined a cabaret band with two brothers who were guitarists and singers. As the group Kaliban, we travelled around Scotland for five years, performing in cabaret clubs.
We had that sibling sound too.
Below is us singing The Eagle's song 'Lyin Eyes'. I sing the lead in this song, my sister Maureen joins in, and then the four of us sing the chorus. It was a great time in my life, and learning to perform on stage stayed with me into my business career.
Please double-click on the image to listen.
Questions for this Week
Well, this has been a fun post to write for you. A real trip down memory lane. Here are my questions for this week. Enjoy!
What musical memories do you have from your early years?
Are there any genres of music that have traversed your life?
Who has influenced your musical tastes over the years?
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
That Sibling Sound
Dear Ann
Thank you for sharing Kaliban - I love now knowing that about you.
Growing up my parents always played soul and diana ross and abba and dire straits and the drifters.
My time was the 80's but I notice that I have retained the words more of my parents music.
Deep peace to you
Mark
What a beautiful voice, dear Ann...and your sister, too! I loved hearing your Kaliban group in action. My brother and I spent hours and hours in our basement listening to the early Beatles albums my dad purchased. Also Hair and Godspell. We knew every word (some of which we should not have known!) We also had a family tradition on Sundays--after church, we'd stop by a local grocery store that had a small section for 45s, and my brother and I each got to pick one out. My very first record purchase was Black Magic Woman by Carlos Santana. Can you imagine what my mother must have thought?? I was eight years old buying something with that title. Ha! I was a Latin music fan from the start. Even today, nothing gets me dancing like a good Latin beat!