Phil Everly Memorial Fund

Phil passed away Friday, January 3, 2014 in Burbank, Calif. at the age of 74 due to complications from COPD. The Everly family would like contributions to be made in memory of Phil to the COPD Foundation, to help us fight this terrible disease.

About the Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers are the most important vocal duo in rock. The enduring influence of their close, expressive harmonies is evident in the work of British Invasion bands like the Beatles and the Hollies, and of folk-oriented acts such as Simon and Garfunkel, not to mention countless solo artists. Most of the Everlys' hit singles — "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream" — merged Nashville's clean instrumental country style with innocuous teenage themes, and were smoother than other contemporary country-rock hybrids like rockabilly. Their mastery is revealed in their ballads, among them "Let It Be Me."

About Phil Everly

Phil Everly was born in Chicago, IL on January 19, 1939, but grew up in Iowa. He began singing country music with his brother in 1945 on his family's radio show in Shenandoah, Iowa. Notable songs of the Everly Brothers was "Cathy's Clown", "Wake up Little Susie", "Bye Bye Love", "When Will I Be Loved", and "All I Have to Do is Dream". The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and were known for mixing rock 'n' roll music with country music. Phil Everly last performed in public in 2011, but his son Jason said he had been actively writing songs, living part of the year in Burbank and the rest in Nashville. He said his father had been in the hospital for about two weeks when he passed away. Though COPD affected his health, Jason Everly said it never affected his voice.

"My dad was a loving, kind-hearted man and a great father. When I lost him to COPD, I lost my best friend. He wouldn't want anyone to go through what he did, which is why I encourage you to support the COPD Foundation. Let's create a world where COPD doesn't exist." Chris Everly

"The Everly Brothers have been called the most influential duo in music. Of course Phil Everly was a gifted singer, musician and songwriter, but he was also an amazing husband, a giving and kind person, and a dedicated father, grandfather and uncle. COPD took Phil too early – he had so much love and life to contribute to this world. Phil's music changed our world, and now it's time to get behind the COPD Foundation and change the world again... to create one where no one has to live with COPD. We know now that COPD is a genetic disease, even non-smokers can get it, however smoking makes the condition worse, and though Phil stopped smoking in 2001, the lung damage was already done. Get tested!" says Patti Everly, Phil's wife since 1999.

Patti received the inaugural Phil Everly Champion for COPD award on December 4, 2014 for her advocacy and support of the COPD Foundation in Phil's honor.

The Everly family thanks you for your support in memory of their angel.