Eric Carmen, the iconic 70s crooner best known for his soul-stirring ballad “All By Myself,” has sadly left the stage at the age of 74, as confirmed by his grieving wife.
In a heartfelt statement on the singer’s website, Amy Carmen shared the somber news, saying, “It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen. Our sweet, loving and talented Eric passed away in his sleep, over the weekend. It brought him great joy to know, that for decades, his music touched so many and will be his lasting legacy. Please respect the family’s privacy as we mourn our enormous loss. ‘Love Is All That Matters … Faithful and Forever.’”
Making waves in the 1970s as a key member of the Raspberries, Carmen later carved his own path in the music world with solo ventures, yielding chart-toppers like “All By Myself.” This timeless track has left an indelible mark, featuring in numerous films and TV shows, and amassing hundreds of millions of plays on YouTube and streaming platforms. Carmen also struck gold with “Hungry Eyes,” soaring to fourth on the Billboard Top 100 charts and becoming a memorable part of the soundtrack for the iconic 1987 film “Dirty Dancing,” starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
Born in Cleveland and nurtured in nearby Lyndburg, Carmen’s musical roots were cultivated by his Russian-Jewish family. Starting his musical journey at the tender age of three, he studied the violin, piano, and guitar at the Cleveland Institute of Music. By high school, he was already accompanying bands, and in college, he joined The Choir, a Cleveland underground sensation that paved the way for his collaboration with future Raspberries members Jim Bonfanti, Wally Bryson, and Dave Smalley.
The quartet asserted their dominance in the 1970s power pop era, outshining peers like The Cars and Cheap Trick on the charts with hits such as “I Wanna Be With You,” “Don’t Want to Say Goodbye,” and the 1972 chart-topper “Go All The Way,” selling a million copies and earning the band a gold disc.
Carmen bid adieu to Raspberries in 1975, transitioning from pop-rock to melodious ballads that birthed classics like “All By Myself” and “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again.” While his later albums received mixed reviews, Carmen’s enduring impact extended beyond commercial success, encompassing projects like “Almost Paradise,” the love theme from the movie “Footloose.”
Eric Carmen is survived by his third wife, Amy Carmen, and two children, Kathryn and Clayton, from his second marriage to Susan Brown. The world mourns the loss of a musical legend whose melodies will echo through the ages.
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