The surviving member of The Everly Brothers, Don Everly has passed away aged 84.
The devastating news was confirmed by the family to the Los Angeles Times, but the cause is not yet known.
In a statement, the family spokesperson said; "Don lived by what he felt in his heart. Don expressed his appreciation for the ability to live his dreams... with his soulmate and wife, Adela, and sharing the music that made him an Everly Brother,"
The news comes a few years after Phil Everly died of pulmonary disease in 2014, aged 74.
The Everly Brothers
They were one of the most distinctive and influential acts of early rock ’n’ roll, The Everlys had it all. But family friction, drink and drugs led to an explosive on-stage bust-up that all but ended their career.
Combining country and folk influences, pristine two-part harmonies and chiming acoustic guitars with R&B rhythms; The Everly Brothers had a winning concept that made them a huge international success. Their smart, clean-cut image also set them apart from other rising rockers of the mid Fifties.
Don was born in 1937 and Phil arrived two years later. Their parents, Ike and Margaret, were Midwestern country stars with their own radio shows and by the early Fifties, the young brothers were regularly performing on air, billed as 'Little Donnie and Baby Boy Phil'.
The boys caught the attention of legendary guitarist and family friend, Chet Atkins, who helped secure a publishing deal for them. Their first single, a self-penned and somewhat conventional country song, was not successful.
Top hits
Everything changed after the Everlys signed to Cadence records in 1957. They were offered the song Bye Bye Love, written by husband and wife team, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant which, incredibly, had previously been rejected by 30 other artists! It was an international hit and the Bryants went on to supply many more songs for the boys, including, Wake Up Little Susie, All I Have To Do Is Dream and Bird Dog.
Don and Phil also went on to write a number of their own hits including; Till I Kissed You and their biggest- selling American single, Cathy's Clown.
In 1962, the brothers released what would be their final US hit, That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be). While they continued to sell well across the Atlantic, increasing pressures of constant touring, relationship problems plus management and publishing disputes began to take their toll.
By the early Sixties both Everlys had serious drug problems. Don in particular, had become involved with 'Ritalin therapy' – a program that mixed an amphetamine- like stimulant and vitamins to improve stamina and performance. Don would explain later that, “People didn't understand drugs that well then. They didn't know what they were messing with... But it got out of hand, naturally. It was a real disaster for a lot of people and it was a disaster for me.”
The brothers difficult relationship
Despite their increasingly hostile and erratic relationship, Phil and Don soldiered on together for a further decade, until things came to an inevitable head live on stage at the John Wayne Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm near Los Angeles, July 14, 1973. Don was very drunk and a furious Phil smashed his guitar to the floor before storming off stage, mid set. Don carried on alone and, when a spectator shouted "Where's Phil?" he replied, "The Everly Brothers died ten years ago."
The brothers remained estranged for the following decade, with both only achieving moderate solo success. They finally reconciled and reunited in 1983 for a live performance in London, at the Royal Albert Hall. A comeback album, EB 84 followed which included the song On the Wings of a Nightingale, written by life-long Everlys fan Paul McCartney.
McCartney along with John Lennon and many of the 'British Invasion' artists of the Sixties, had long since cited the Everly brothers as a huge inspiration. After Phil died in 2014, Don admitted that he and his brother had become estranged again in their later years. But despite vastly different views on just about everything, music was the one thing they always shared.
“It’s almost like we could read each other’s minds when we sang,” said Don.