Everly Brothers: US rock ‘n’ roll star Don Everly dies aged 84

Rock ‘n’ roll star Don Everly has died aged 84.

Everly was the last surviving member of the music duo The Everly Brothers, A family spokesperson confirmed Everly’s death to the Los Angeles Times, but did not disclose the cause.

A statement from the family 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.”

Everly, who performed alongside his brother, Phil, had success in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, with hits Bye Bye Love and All I Have To Do Is Dream.

Rolling Stone magazine has described them as "the most important vocal duo in rock,” and the band were considered one of the biggest influences for late 60’s bands like The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Beach Boys.

The duo, who had 15 US top 10 hits between 1957 and 1962, were described as “the most important vocal duo in rock” by Rolling Stone magazine. The Everly Brothers were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year, 1986, alongside the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard

Don Everly was born on 1 February 1937 in Brownie, Kentucky. He moved with his family to Chicago in the late 1930s and he played alongside his parents, Ike and Margaret Everly in a band called The Everly Family.

Phil and Don continued on as a duo when the group dissolved in 1953, with the pair eventually breaking on stage in 1973.

The duo has a decade long estrangement, but Phil late said that their relationship had survived the tumultuous period. Phil Everly passed away in 2014 at the age of 74.