Hundreds Gather At Phil Everly Memorial

Several singers including country musician Marty Brown performed songs by the duo with a band, and others gave tribute speeches.

Phil Everly died Jan. 3 at age 74. With his brother, Don Everly, the duo had 19 Top 40 hits between 1957 and 1962. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Before the memorial, Diana Sue Taylor, a cousin of Everly’s, perused memorabilia from the duo’s career.

“I’m so happy to see so many family, friends and fans of my cousins come together for such a joyous occasion. Looking at all the memorabilia brings back so many fond memories,” she said.

Carol and Phil Brammer, two fans and memorabilia collectors from St. Louis, also came to the service. They were donating 12 posters to the Muhlenberg County Music Museum, which is dedicated to musicians who have ties to the area.

“I’m just such a big fan of the Everly Brothers and have been collecting their stuff for many years,” Carol Brammer said. “As I get older I want it to be somewhere that it will be cherished and loved.”

The memorial service was held at the Merle Travis Music Center in Powderly near Central City, where the Everly Brothers entertained for years at a homecoming benefit. Their family had deep ties to the area.

The Everly Brothers began the homecoming concerts in 1988 and continued through 2001 to help raise scholarship money and funds for other projects.