Zager & Evans, a folk rock duo from Nebraska, USA, was formed in 1968 by Denny Zager and Rick Evans. The pair met at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1962 and initially performed together in the band The Eccentrics. Their breakthrough came with the release of "In the Year 2525" in 1969, a song written by Evans that warned about the dangers of technology. The single reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and also topped charts in the UK and Australia. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in July 1969 and sold over four million copies by 1970. Following this success, Zager & Evans released their self-titled debut album Zager & Evans (1970) and later Food for the Mind (1971). Despite the initial hit, subsequent singles like "Mr. Turnkey" and "Listen to the People" failed to replicate the success of "In the Year 2525" and the duo is often considered a one-hit wonder. After their time together, Zager focused on building custom guitars at Zager Guitars in Lincoln, Nebraska, while Evans largely retired from public life until his death in February 2018.
