Tributes after Everly Brother Phil dies at 74

The world of music yesterday paid tribute to ’60s singing royalty Phil Everly, who has died aged 74.

He succumbed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a hospital in California on Friday, according to his son Jason. His wife, Patti said the family were “absolutely heartbroken”.

The star who formed the Everly Brothers with brother Don in 1945 on their family’s radio show in Iowa was credited with inspiring a wave of bands in the 1960s, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Byrds.

Bob Dylan once famously said: “We owe these guys everything. They started it all.”

The duo had 19 top 40 hits including Bye Bye Love, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Cathy’s Clown, and Wake Up Little Susie.

Queen guitarist Brian May revealed he had lost a huge piece of his youth and described the Everly Brothers as heroes.

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

Linda Ronstadt, who recorded one of their biggest hits, When Will I Be Loved, said: “They were both such good singers they were one of the foundations, one of the cornerstones of the new rock ‘n’ roll sound.

“They had that sibling sound. The information of your DNA is carried in your voice, and you can get a sound (with family) that you never get with someone who’s not blood-related to you.”

US guitarist and friend, Duane Eddy, described his death as “a huge blow”.

“It was the most beautiful sound you’ll ever hear, I think, of two voices,” he said. “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.”

Phil was born in Chicago to folk singers Ike and Margaret Everly. Elder brother Don was born two years previously when the family lived in Kentucky.

Despite forming shortly after the Second World War, their break came in the mid-1950s when they signed with New-York based, Cadence Records. But their time at the top wasn’t without controversy.

In 1973 during a concert Phil stormed off stage telling the audience: “The Everly Brothers died 10 years ago.” But it spelled only a temporary end and the band reformed in 1983.

During the breakup, they pursued solo singing careers and Phil appeared in the Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way But Loose. They were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Speaking in an interview that year, Don said the duo were successful because “we never followed trends”.

He added: “We did what we liked and followed our instincts. Rock ‘n’ roll did survive, and we were right about that. Country did survive, and we were right about that. You can mix the two but people said we couldn’t.”

Phil is survived by Don, wife Patti, mother Margaret, sons Jason and Chris and two granddaughters.