Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, rock 'n' roll icon, dies at 74 (BLOG)

Phil Everly, who with his brother Don set a standard for rock 'n' roll harmony that has not yet been matched, died Friday in Bur...

Phil Everly, who with his brother Don set a standard for rock 'n' roll harmony that has not yet been matched, died Friday in Burbank after a long battle against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 74.

His wife Patti told the Los Angeles Times he contracted the disease from a lifetime of smoking.

The Everly Brothers were the only group among the first inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

RICK DIAMOND/GETTY IMAGES

Phil Everly and wife Patti attend the ‘We're All For The Hall’ benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Sommet Center on Oct. 13, 2009, in Nashville, Tenn.