Eric Carmen, singer of the 1970s pop-rock band Raspberries and singer of hit singles including “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes,” has died at the age of 74. Carmen's wife, Amy, announced his death in a post on his website. No cause of death was provided.
“It is with great sadness that we share the devastating news of Eric Carmen’s passing,” she wrote. “Kind, loving and talented Eric passed away in his sleep over the weekend. It was his comfort to know that his music over the decades touched so many and will be his lasting legacy. Please respect the family’s privacy as we mourn our tremendous loss. “Love is all that matters.. .Sincere and forever.”
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Carmen entered the Cleveland Institute of Music at the age of two and a half and took violin lessons from his aunt, a violinist with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, when he was six. In college, he joined the local band Cyrus Erie, which merged with members of a group called The Choir to form the Raspberry Band in 1970. Influenced by British Invasion bands such as the Who and the Beatles, the band originally featured Carmen on rhythm guitar. Vocals and piano, Jim Bonfanti on drums, Wally Bryson on lead guitar and vocals, and John Alexik on bass – helped pioneer the powerful pop movement. After Aleksic left and was replaced by former choir singer Dave Smalley, the Raspberries signed with Capitol Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1972, which became their biggest hit, “Go All the Way.”
The Raspberry Team has released three more albums – Fresh, Side 3And Starting over – before disbanding in 1975. Carmen continued to pursue a solo career leaning more towards hard ballads and quickly achieved success with 1975's “All By Myself”, the first single from his debut album, as well as its follow-up “Never”. You will fall in love again. Subsequent albums included 1977's Boats against the current1978 Change of heartand the eighties Tonight you are mineAnd his latest album, I was born to love youreleased in 2000. He revisited the top of the charts in 1987 with his contribution to Dirty dancing The “Hungry Eyes” soundtrack, which reached number four on the charts painting Hot 100, while “Go All the Way” saw a resurgence after its inclusion in Part 1 Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack in 2014.
