Farewell to a Brother

 I'm a bit late in the game but wanted to make sure this legend received his due respect. Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers passed away a few weeks ago on January 4th due to acomplications of emphysema and bronchitis. The duo were American country-influenced rock and roll singers, known for their close vocal harmonies and steel-string guitar playing. Together with his older brother Don, The Everlys found early success in 1957 with the release of "Bye Bye Love," a rockabilly/country/rock 'n' roll tune that reached #2 on the US pop chart, #1 on the country chart, and even #5 on the R&B chart. Touring extensively with Buddy Holly & The Crickets during 1957 and 1958, the brothers continued to score several US and UK hits including "Wake Up, Little Susie," "All I have to Do is Dream," and "Bird Dog." Their distinct harmony singing influenced many successful rock groups in the 1960s like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Bee Gees, and The Hollies, many of which developed their early singing style by performing covers of Everly songs. The Everly Brothers had 35 Billboard Top-100 singles (more than any other duo) with 26 in the top 40, and they were among the first 10 artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Written by Don and Phil, here's a performance of "Cathy's Clown," their biggest-selling record in 1960.

Farewell, Phil Everly. Your music will always stand the test of time!