Phil Everly, one half of the esteemed '50s and '60s rock and roll duo the Everly Brothers, died on Friday (January 3) after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, The Los Angeles Times has confirmed. He was 74.

The Everly Brothers, composed of Phil and his older brother, Don, were known for bringing an unparalleled (and almost hypnotic) vocal harmony to rock and roll, influencing major musical acts of their era including the Beatles.

They reached their peak in the 1950s and 1960s with such hits as "Bye Bye Love,""All I Have To Do Is Dream," "When Will I Be Loved" and "Cathy's Clown," all of which were mainstays on the charts. After the duo broke up in 1973, both went on to release solo albums. Phil's self-titled 1983 album was very successful in the U.K., led by "She Means Nothing to Me," which reached the top 10 there.

The brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and 15 years later, they were welcomed into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"We are absolutely heartbroken," Everly's wife, Patti, told The LA Times on Friday. "He fought long and hard."