Driving on Kingston Pike in the Bearden area, you're sure to notice something differing at Forest Heights Boulevard: A park dedicated to The Everly Brothers.
"It was our idea to put together a park as a tribute to the Everly Brothers," said Dennis Owen with the Bearden Council, the group that came up with the idea to build the park. "We're working with the city, the state and TDOT to put this thing together."
Everly Brothers park is currently under development and funded through donations and sponsorships. Owen says it's been well received by the community.
"There's some pretty basic elements, like park benches and bicycle racks, we're right here on the Greenway," Owen Said. "Some tributes to the Everly's, to their legacy, to the history, to the people who influence them, and the second phase may involve a statue. not sure, whatever the community wants to do here,"
Owen cites the generosity of the city, private donors, city council leaders and several companies and foundations for their support in the development of Everly Brothers Park. Donations and community input can be shared by visiting EverlyPark.org
"I was the one who needed to contact the famliy to get permission," said Owen. "From the very first time I talked to him, Don has been terribly gracious. He said 'if it comes together that's terrific', and he said 'and I think my brother would say the same'", said Owen. "He said it doesn't (happen), just tell my friends from West High School that I had a blast and I'd like to see them soon."
Phil and Don Everly grew up in a musical family. Their father, Ike, was a gifted musician. The brothers tight harmonies and unique style of playing guitar made them very popular. The brothers came to Knoxville where they attended West High School. While there, the two performed on WROL and Cas Walker's show. Walkerinfamously dismissed them from the show because they were leaning more towards the up-and-coming rock-n-roll sound.
Ralph Smith, a classmate of Phil Everly, recalls their dismissal.
"From what I understand they were out of school driving around and Mr. Love, the principal at our school at that time, stopped them and said 'Why aren't you boys in school?," Smith said. "They said 'well, we've been up at the Cas Walker program but we just got fired. He said 'well, I guess you'll be back at school tomorrow, won't ya?'"
Ralph Smith ran track with Phil Everly and recalls him as a good student and athlete with an outgoing personality.
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Ralph Smith also remembers that Don wasn't as studious as his younger brother. He says their principal talked with Don just before he graduated West High.
"Mr. Love called him in the office and he said 'Son, you're not planning to go on to college are you?'," recalled Smith. "He said 'No sir, we've got a music contract down in Nashville . He said 'in that case, I'll pass you'."
Of course, the Everly Brothers went on to record countless hit songs and sell millions of albums. They were among the first class inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Museum in 1986 and then into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Both museums have exhibits featuring items related to the brothers.
West High School also has a tribute to the Everlys. It was created by student Hayden Smith.
Freshman year I learned who The Everly Brothers were and I realized I had heard a lot of their songs and didn't realize who they were," said Hayden. "So, I decided to do a project on the Everly Brothers."
The exhibit includes a signed yearbook, 45's , Don Everly's autographed guitar, pamphlets, and even a photo of the young lady believed to be the inspiration for the Everly's hit song, Cathy's Clown.
Hayden Smith may be young, but he still has an appreciation for music made decades ago, by two brothers who went to the high school he attends.
"They were very significant in the sense that their harmonies were really tight and they inspired many acts to come," said Hayden. These are the founding fathers of rock-n-roll."
For more information on Everly Brothers Park visit EverlyPark.org
To learn more about their Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Museum exhibit visit www.rockhall.com
To learn more about their Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit visit countrymusichalloffame.org