Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers has Died at the Age of 74

Phil Everly, of the Everly Brothers, died Friday in Burbank of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  He was 74.

His wife, Patti Everly, told The Los Angeles Times,  “We are absolutely heartbroken. ” She also said that the disease was the result of a lifetime of cigarette smoking.

The Everly Brothers,  Phil and his brother Don, had a major influence on the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Byrds and countless younger-generation rock, folk and country singers.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, they had some three dozen hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, among them “Cathy’s Clown,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “When Will I Be Loved” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.”

My favorite was the song, "Wake Up Little Susie", about two teenagers falling asleep at the drive-in theater and waking after curfew.  The song was banned in Boston for its slightly suggestive lyrics. It went to No. 1.

Phillip Everly was born on Jan. 19, 1939, in Chicago, the son of two country musicians, Ike and Margaret Everly. The family was a traveling act, and the brothers started performing together on the family radio show.

In addition to his wife, Everly is survived by his brother Don, who will be 77 in February; their mother, Margaret; sons Jason and Chris; and two granddaughters.

The Everly Brothers were among the first 10 performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.