SA SOUND
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, Dead at 74
Phil Everly, one half of the pop, rock and country duo the Everly Brothers, died Friday in Burbank, Calif., at age 74. According to the Los Angeles Times, he died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by a lifetime of smoking.
According to Billboard magazine, the Everly Brothers is the all-time third biggest duo in the history of the charts, just behind Hall & Oates and the Carpenters. The duo charted 31 singles in Billboard’s Hot 100 (12 of them top 10 hits and one number one, “Cathy’s Clown” in 1960), and also had four number ones in the country charts (“Bye Bye Love,” Wae Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do is Dream” and “Bird Dog”). Overall, they’re ranked by Billboard as the 66th biggest act in the 55 years of the charts. They were among the first inductees in the inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and later were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
The brothers, known for their celestial harmonies (Phil singing tenor and Don singing baritone), good looks and fine guitar-playing, were a great influence for the Beatles and the Beach Boys, themselves known for their sophisticated harmonies.
Go to the next page to see the Everly Brothers Country Music Hall of Fame induction video.
