Saturday, January 4, 2014 6:58am ET by  
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Everly Brothers' Phil dies, aged 74

US rock and country musician Phil Everly, the youngest of The Everly Brothers, who has died in California aged 74.

His wife Patti told The Los Angeles Times her husband had died following complications from lung disease after a lifetime of smoking. "We are absolutely heartbroken. He fought long and hard."

His son Jason Everly said his father had been in the hospital in Burbank for about two weeks before he passed away.

Everly's last public performance came in 2011, but he had been actively writing music after this, his son added.

Everly and his brother Don had 19 top 40 hits between 1957 and 1962 and a musical career spanning five decades.

Their music influenced the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Byrds and many other rock, country and folk singers. Their hits included Cathy's Clown, Wake Up Little Susie, Bye Bye Love, When Will I Be Loved and All I Have To Do Is Dream.

The Beatles once referred to themselves as "the English Everly Brothers" and Dylan, pop culture's poet laureate, once said: "We owe these guys everything. They started it all."

Tributes flooded in for Phil Everly, recognising his lasting legacy on the music industry.

US guitarist and friend Duane Eddy, who produced Everly's first solo album after the split with his brother, described his death as "a huge blow".

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "It was the most beautiful sound you'll ever hear I think, of two voices.

"They were like two great singers that came together who happened to be brothers and had that same sibling quality. It just made for a beautiful sound."

Queen guitarist Brian May said he had lost a huge piece of his youth and described the brothers as heroes.

In a post on his website, he wrote: "RIP Phil Everly … you were magic. I have tears in my eyes."

 

 

 

 

Watch the Everly Brothers perform below: