Eric Carmen, the power pop icon who fronted the Raspberries and later found success as a solo artist, has passed away at the age of 74.
The news was shared by his wife, Amy Carmen, on his website. She wrote, “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.’”
Carmen’s career in music spanned several decades, starting with the Raspberries in the early 1970s. The band’s breakout hit, “Go All the Way,” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, driven by its catchy guitar riff and harmonies. Despite the controversy over the song’s sexualized lyrics, the band’s clean-cut image and matching suits won over fans.
However, the Raspberries struggled to replicate the success of their first hit. Their subsequent singles, “I Wanna Be With You” and “Tonight,” peaked at No. 16 and No. 69 respectively. The band’s fortunes rose again with “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” a No. 18 hit in 1974, off their final album, “Starting Over.”
After the Raspberries disbanded in the mid-’70s, Carmen embarked on a successful solo career. His first solo hit, “All by Myself,” reached No. 2 in 1975. He followed this up with “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again,” which hit No. 11 on the Hot 100 and topped the adult contemporary chart.
Carmen’s success continued into the ’80s with the “Dirty Dancing” song “Hungry Eyes,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1987. His next single, “Make Me Lose Control,” did even better, reaching No. 3 the following year.
Despite not charting a single after the 1980s, Carmen remained active in the music scene. He released a studio album in 2000, “I Was Born to Love You,” and reunited with the Raspberries for a brief period in the mid-2000s. The band’s 2005 concert at L.A.’s House of Blues was released as the live album “Live on Sunset Strip,” and another show from the reunion was issued in 2017 as “Pop Art Live.”
Carmen’s music found a new audience when “Go All the Way” was included on the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack in 2014. His music, both with the Raspberries and as a solo artist, will continue to touch many, serving as his lasting legacy.
In recent years, Carmen withdrew from public life, including social media, where he had previously interacted with fans. His conservative political views sometimes led to combative exchanges, prompting his withdrawal from Twitter.
As we remember Eric Carmen, his wife’s words echo in our minds, “Love Is All That Matters… Faithful and Forever.” His music, his legacy, and his impact on the world of power pop will indeed be remembered, faithful and forever.
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