Peter and Gordon

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. Today he is a partner at Strategic Artist Management in L.A.; Pamela Anderson and Everclear are among those he is currently managing. 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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