Peter Asher and Gordon Waller were often called "the Everly Brothers of the British Invasion." They
harmonized in ear-pleasing intervals, strummed acoustic guitars in tandem and recorded an impressively
consistent string of hit songs. Blending folk, blues and rock 'n' roll with their own pop-flavored
English sensibility, their sound and vocal work powerfully influenced the Byrds and others that followed
in the wake of the Invasion.
Waller met Asher at Westminster School in London. A regular booking at The Pickwick Club in London
garnered the attention of A&R man Norman Newell and in short order the two were signed to EMI.
When the time came for their first recording session, in addition to the performances which got them the
deal (such as “500 Miles”), Peter and Gordon remembered a song their friend Paul McCartney had played for
them. They asked Paul to write a bridge to complete it and he did so. The song became their debut single,
“World Without Love,” which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic (and around the world) in
1964. The duo went on to score hits with the Lennon and McCartney songs “Nobody I Know” and “I Don’t
Want To See You Again,” and later “Woman” (written by McCartney under a pseudonym). Suddenly, Peter
and Gordon were among the most recognizable faces and voices of the British Invasion.
Peter and Gordon also turned out to be astute song finders outside the Lennon-McCartney sphere. Del
Shannon’s "I Go to Pieces" was acquired while on tour in Australia with Del and The Searchers. The two
also had success with Buddy Holly’s “True Love Ways,” and Phil Spector’s “To Know You Is To Love You,”
all of which made the U.S. Top 40.
They also had hit records in 1966 and ’67 with music-hall novelties such as “Lady Godiva” and “Knight
In Rusty Armour,” and parent-pleasing pop like “Sunday For Tea.” Following a four-year, ten-song hit
spree and many successful television appearances (The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig, Hullabaloo, Ready
Steady Go, etc.) and concert tours, Peter and Gordon amicably went their separate ways in 1968.
Peter Asher went on to a successful and continuing career in the music business, becoming head of A&R
for Apple (The Beatles’ record label), founding a highly successful management company (James Taylor,
Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell et al) and spending ten years as Vice President of Sony Music. He is
currently a partner at Strategic Artist Management in L.A. Equally successful as a Record Producer,
Peter won the Producer of the Year Grammy in 1977 and 1989.
Gordon Waller has enjoyed success in areas as diverse as musical theatre, song writing, movie scoring
and even the construction of model trains. His “Pharoah” in the musical Joseph and The Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat was a smashing success and he received accolades for his soundtrack to the James
Dean biopic Race With Destiny.
After a 38-year hiatus, they reunited for a benefit for their friend Mike Smith (of the Dave Clark
Five) in 2005, and have performed together with pleasure on special occasions ever since.
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