Tom Smothers - one-half of the famous singing comedy team, the "Smothers Brothers" passed away on December 26. He was 86 years old.
Dick Smothers announced his brother's passing in a statement released on Wednesday, saying Tom died at home as a result of cancer.
Dick said, “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner." He continued on to say, “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years."
"Our relationship was like a good marriage, he said – "the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”
Tom Smothers
In the late '50s, early 1960s, Tom and Dick often appeared on TV variety shows and released popular albums of their stage performances - In 1967, they finally
landed their own variety show, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," which instantly became one of the most hotly debated TV programs during the Vietnam War period.
The "Smothers Brothers" got canceled when Tommy became very political when the show was in its second season - railing with satire against the Vietnam War.
Alongside his younger brother Dick, Smothers and John Lennon played acoustic guitar during the live recording of Lennon's 1969 song "Give Peace a Chance".
Source: TMZ