US musician Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers has died aged 74 in California.
His wife Patti told the Los Angeles Times that he suffered complications from lung disease.
Ms Everly said: “We are absolutely heartbroken,” and blamed his illness on a lifetime of cigarette smoking.
His son, Jason, said he had been in hospital in Burbank, Los Angeles, for a fortnight before he died.
His last public performance was in 2011.
Everly, who took the high notes, and his brother Don, were an influential act of the 1950s and early 1960s.
US guitarist and friend Duane Eddy, who produced Everly’s first solo album after the split with his brother, described his death as “a huge blow”.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “It was the most beautiful sound you’ll ever hear I think, of two voices.”
Queen guitarist Brian May said he had lost “a huge piece” of his youth and described the brothers as “heroes”.
In a post on his website brianmay.com, he wrote: “I could probably write a book on the music of the fabulous Everly Brothers, but you’ll find echoes of their influence in a lot of our old Queen songs, and perhaps that is the best tribute.”
