There is something indescribable about a family singing together, and The Everly Brothers are one of the best examples of this. Brothers Don and Phil Everly create a timeless sound together every time they sing, as seen on their 1960 televised performance of “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “Cathy’s Clown”. The Knoxville, Tennessee duo kicked off with “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” which is a calming acoustic number.
The brothers performed the romantic tune without their backing band, which served to highlight their incomparable harmonies. “All I Have to Do Is Dream” wasn’t written by the brothers, but they certainly made the 1958 ballad their own and theirs has become the most famous version. Next up, the band fired up and rolled into “Cathy’s Clown,” which was a 1960 hit written by Don Everly. This time, the duo’s vocal harmonies are set to an upbeat rhythm, while Don really shines on the verse vocals.
There’s just something so special about the classic gigs from the ‘60s. The sharp look of the band in their suits, and the gentlemanly manner of the brothers really make for a vibe. Needless to say, the classic songs and the amazing level of musicianship and vocals make for a memorable performance. The 1960 television performance attracted 36 million views on YouTube, which made it the most popular video from The Everly Brothers on the entire platform, including both live and studio recordings.
The performance was filmed during The Everly Brothers’ 1960 UK tour. The brothers’ backing band for the tour was Buddy Holly’s Crickets, who appeared less than a year and a half after Holly died in a plane crash while on tour. The clip is notable because there are very few high-quality videos of vintage Everly Brothers performances available. One of the few other high-quality old school videos from the band features an excellent performance of “Crying in the Rain” on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Fans of all ages headed to the comments of the 1960 television performance to celebrate the work of The Everly Brothers, adding comments such as “I’m 24, and this is my favourite era of music. Music was so deep then. Music like this unlocks a plethora of emotions from within my soul” and “The blueprint for male pop harmony. No one ever did it better. RIP the Everlys.”
If you’re captivated by the timeless harmonies of The Everly Brothers, you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel or follow them on their Facebook page. Enjoy more of their classic performances and incredible music.