One of the items by which they were able to identify Buddy Holly after the plane crash was a sapphire ring, Buddy, Don and Phil having bought identical rings from a jeweller backstage on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Back in the day, Don and Phil didn’t travel with their own band and had to use local musicians, but at one concert in Florida there were only amateur players, so Buddy and the Crickets stepped in to back them. That must have been a very special night for those who had a ticket.

The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1997 they were given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and were recognised by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1986 they received a star on the Hollywood Walk Fame.

Mike Read