Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jan 3, 2014 21:14:49 GMT -6
Phil Everly, who made up one-half of iconic rock and country duo The Everly Brothers, has died. He was 74.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the singer passed away Friday (Jan. 3) in Burbank, Calif., of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the paper confirmed through Everly's wife Patti.
His wife told the Times that the disease was contracted through a lifetime of smoking and that the family was "absolutely heartbroken," though she noted that the vocalist "fought long and hard" against the ailment.
Along with older brother Don, Phil Everly took The Everly Brothers to the forefront of its peers, first finding success with its self-titled debut album in 1958. The duo charted 31 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 12 top 10 hits. They claimed a No. 1 single with "Cathy's Clown" in 1960, which spent five weeks atop the chart. The act was also successful on the Hot Country Songs chart, tallying four No. 1s with "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Bird Dog."
Some of the Everly Brothers' other big hits on the Hot 100 include "Problems" (No. 2 in 1958), "('Til) I Kissed You" (No. 4 in 1959) and "Let It Be Me" (No. 7 in 1960).
Billboard recently ranked the duo as the 66th-biggest act in the 55-year history of the Hot 100 chart. They are the chart's third biggest duo ever, following Daryl Hall & John Oates, and the Carpenters.
The brothers pursued solo careers beginning in the early '70s, though Don obtained the lion's share of the chart success at first. However, the younger Everly did end up finding success with 1983's self-titled release in the U.K., hitting the country's top 10 with "She Means Nothing to Me."
In 1986, the duo became one of 10 inductees in the inaugural class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and were later added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Everly is survived by his brother, 76, and his wife, as well as two sons and two granddaughters.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the singer passed away Friday (Jan. 3) in Burbank, Calif., of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the paper confirmed through Everly's wife Patti.
His wife told the Times that the disease was contracted through a lifetime of smoking and that the family was "absolutely heartbroken," though she noted that the vocalist "fought long and hard" against the ailment.
Along with older brother Don, Phil Everly took The Everly Brothers to the forefront of its peers, first finding success with its self-titled debut album in 1958. The duo charted 31 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 12 top 10 hits. They claimed a No. 1 single with "Cathy's Clown" in 1960, which spent five weeks atop the chart. The act was also successful on the Hot Country Songs chart, tallying four No. 1s with "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Bird Dog."
Some of the Everly Brothers' other big hits on the Hot 100 include "Problems" (No. 2 in 1958), "('Til) I Kissed You" (No. 4 in 1959) and "Let It Be Me" (No. 7 in 1960).
Billboard recently ranked the duo as the 66th-biggest act in the 55-year history of the Hot 100 chart. They are the chart's third biggest duo ever, following Daryl Hall & John Oates, and the Carpenters.
The brothers pursued solo careers beginning in the early '70s, though Don obtained the lion's share of the chart success at first. However, the younger Everly did end up finding success with 1983's self-titled release in the U.K., hitting the country's top 10 with "She Means Nothing to Me."
In 1986, the duo became one of 10 inductees in the inaugural class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and were later added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Everly is survived by his brother, 76, and his wife, as well as two sons and two granddaughters.