(CNN) -- Singer Phil Everly -- one half of the
groundbreaking, smooth-sounding, record-setting duo, the Everly Brothers
-- has died, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 74.
During the late 1950s and
early 1960s, Phil Everly and his brother, Don, ranked among the elite
in the music world by virtue of their pitch-perfect harmonies and
emotive lyrics. Rolling Stone
labeled the Everly Brothers "the most important vocal duo in rock,"
having influenced the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and
many other acts. Along the way, they notched 35 Top 100 songs -- more than any other vocal pair.
The Everly Brothers'
sound -- with Don's lower register generally ringing in perfect thirds
with Phil's higher voice -- was the backbone of dozens of hits. The two began as
songwriters before signing a deal in 1957 with Cadence Records. They
became international sensations over the next five years with tunes such
as "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "When Will I Be Loved" and
"All I Have to Do Is Dream." In terms of record sales, their chief
rivals during this stretch were Elvis Presley and Pat Boone.
Their style -- a product
of their blend of rock 'n' roll with Appalachian folk, bluegrass and
other genres more closely aligned to their Kentucky roots -- helped them
earn inductions in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. (more)
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