With their distinctive harmonies and unforgettable melodies, the Everly Brothers were incredibly influential, with many iconic acts — from the Beatles to the Beach Boys and beyond — finding inspiration in their chart-topping hits. But it wasn't just the Everly Brothers' sound that changed the future of music: Fans might be surprised to learn that the duo's first major financial success also helped pave the way for decades of jaw-dropping rock star paychecks to come.
As The Strange Brew reported, Warner Brothers Records wasn't even two years old yet when the label decided to sign Phil and Don Everly, known as the Everly Brothers. For three years prior, the pair had been racking up hits for the much smaller Cadence Records, including "Wake Up Little Susie" and "All I Have to Do Is Dream," but when the time came to renew their contract, the fledgling Warner Brothers — looking to make a "big splash" — made the Everly Brothers an historic offer.
In February of 1960, the Everly Brothers signed a 10-year contract with Warner Brothers Records for $1 million, making them the first artists to be offered a contract of that size. In fact, the contract was only for $750,000, but their manager Wesley Rose exaggerated the amount to the press, likely in an attempt to command higher appearance fees. Still, by contrast, just a few years earlier RCA Victor coughed up only $35,000 to buy out Elvis Presley's contract from Sun Records.
The Everly Brothers were among the first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
The gamble definitely paid off for Warner Brothers, as the Everly Brothers soon had their first hit for the label with “Cathy’s Clown” (the biggest-selling record of their career), which they followed up with five more top 10 singles, resulting in about $35 million in sales.
According to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, while the Everly Brothers continued to record for Warner Brothers throughout the '60s, in 1971, Don recorded his first solo album; the duo also began working with RCA. The brothers broke up in 1973, with Don releasing his second solo record the next year.
The Everly Brothers did go on to reunite in 1983; several years later, in 1986, they were among the first artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (along with Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and others). Other accolades would follow, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and a Country Music Hall of Fame induction in 2001.
Related: An Iconic 1971 Rock Song Makes Comeback on TikTok Thanks to Unlikely Cover
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