By: HISTORY.com Editors
“Wake Up Little Susie” becomes the Everly Brothers’ first No. 1 hit
On October 14, 1957, the Everly Brothers, one of the most important and influential groups in the history of rock ’n’ roll, have their first No. 1 song: “Wake Up Little Susie.” That success came hot on the heels of their first big hit, “Bye Bye Love,” with which they had burst onto the music scene earlier that year.
Harmony singing was a part of rock ’n’ roll right from the beginning, but the three- and four-part harmonies of doo-wop, derived from black gospel and blues traditions, would never have given us Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles or the Byrds. To get those groups, you first had to have the Everly Brothers, whose ringing, close-harmony style introduced a whole new sound into the rock ’n’ roll vocabulary: the sound of Appalachia set to hard-driving acoustic guitars and a subtle backbeat rhythm.
The 1950s
The 1950s were about more than just poodle skirts and rock and roll.
“Bye Bye Love” was the first song by the Bryants to be recorded by the Everlys, establishing their trademark sound and peaking at No. 2 on the charts in the summer of 1957. When the follow-up single, “Wake Up Little Susie,” reached the top spot that October, it stirred controversy in some places due to lyrics that hinted at teenage sex. Banned in Boston at one point, the Everlys’ first chart-topper was taken at face value in most parts of the country as an insanely catchy song about two teenagers who have innocently fallen asleep at a movie only to awaken at 4:00 a.m. in fear of having ruined their good reputations.
The Everly Brothers would earn 25 top-40 hits over the first five years of their hugely influential recording career, including two more No. 1s: “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (1958) and “Cathy’s Clown” (1960).
Also on This Day in History
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on October 14th
Related
Arts & Entertainment
42 videos
A real-life black bear owned by a Canadian soldier serving in World War I inspired the famous children’s book.
Abbott and Costello turned a simple baseball misunderstanding into one of the most famous comedy routines of all time.
The star of ‘I Love Lucy’ was also a pioneering force behind the camera.
About the author
HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Christian Zapata, Cristiana Lombardo and Adrienne Donica.
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Citation Information
- Article Title
- “Wake Up Little Susie” becomes the Everly Brothers’ first No. 1 hit
- Author
- HISTORY.com Editors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 21, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- October 08, 2026
- Original Published Date
- April 01, 2010
