The Everly Brothers: Cathy’s Clown

Remembering Benjamin Curtis and Phil Everly, White Lies' album art, Afrika Bambaataa and more in music this week

Seemingly born to sing, brothers Phil and Don Everly began performing at an early age with their parents, a country and western act, before becoming the legendary Everly Brothers—a record-breaking, chart-topping, close-harmony duo known to influence the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Buddy Holly and countless others with their sweet melodic style. Friday, 3 January 2014, Phil passed away, marking the end of an era while …

8. Richie Havens: Freedom

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

Jim Morrison may have very well been the frontman of The Doors, but it was keyboardist Ray Manzarek who ignited their worldwide success with his inimitable ability to play a Vox Continental organ with his right hand for the melodies while simultaneously playing a Fender keyboard with his left for the bass chords. Arguably no song better displayed his remarkable talent than the 1967 hit …

9. George Duke: Reach Out

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

Sweating and strumming the guitar with artistic force, folk singer Richie Havens opened up Woodstock in ’69 with a three-hour-long, 11-song set that culminated with “Freedom.” A star on the rise, the Brooklyn artist set the tone then at Woodstock and continued to do so throughout his extensive career, which not only included several chart-topping tunes, but also the founding of the Northwind Undersea Institute—an …