RIP Phil Everly, Dead at 74

Phil Everly, one-half of the popular and harmonious duo, The Everly Brothers, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014 at 74 years of age. The cause of death was complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his wife, Patti, told the L.A. Times. “We are absolutely heartbroken,” she said, “He fought long and hard.” She indicated that the disease resulted from a lifetime of smoking cigarettes.

Phil and his brother Don blew up the charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hit after hit. The Everly Brothers had their first 2 No. 1 hits in 1957 on the country charts — “Bye Bye Love” and “Wake Up Little Susie.” These songs were released on the same 45 record, with “Little Susie” as the B side. “Little Susie” also hit No. 1 on the Pop Charts while “Bye Bye Love” made it to No. 2. The following year, they hit big again with “All I Have To Do Is Dream” sailing to No. 1 on both country and pop charts. “Bird Dog” went to the top of the country charts and to No. 3 in pop. Also among their top hits, still played by many oldie stations, are “Cathy’s Clown”, “When Will I Be Loved”, “(Til) I Kissed You” and “Crying In The Rain”. The Everly Brothers were among the first 10 performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Phil Everly credited their sound to DNA, noting that his voice and brother Don’s blended so well because they were blood related. Unfortunately, that perfect voice harmony that their fans loved so much, and that influenced so many groups to come, did not carry over to their personalities. The brothers split up after pent-up tensions led to an onstage argument in 1973, and did not speak for many years. They patched up their differences in the 1980s and brought their music back to their fans with a nostalgia tour.

Phil Everly is survived by his wife, Patti, and their sons Jason and Chris, as well as his brother, Don, and their mother, Margaret, and two granddaughters.