(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – Eric Carmen, frontman of the influential band the Raspberries before going solo and creating hits like “Hungry Eyes,” has passed away at the age of 74.
Amy Carmen, Eric’s wife, announced his passing on their website. In a heartfelt message, she said Eric died peacefully in his sleep. She mentioned his song “Love Is All That Matters,” hinting at the enduring impact of his music.
Carmen’s career started with a rock and roll explosion, not ballads many remember him for. Born in Cleveland in 1949, he co-founded the Raspberries in 1970. The band defied trends, rejecting heavy rock and glam for catchy, Beatles-inspired pop.
Carmen’s songwriting talent shone with their biggest hit, the suggestive “Go All the Way,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Despite some controversy over the lyrics, it became a power pop classic.
The Raspberries weren’t afraid to experiment. They dabbled in harder rock on albums like “Side 3” while keeping their signature harmonies. However, critics offered mixed reviews, leading to the band’s disbandment in the mid-70s.
After the breakup, Carmen launched a successful solo career. His 1975 single “All By Myself” became a No. 2 hit, showcasing his skill for crafting emotional ballads. He continued churning out hits throughout the 1980s, including “Hungry Eyes” from the movie Dirty Dancing and “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again.”
Collaboration was never a hurdle for Carmen. He co-wrote “Almost Paradise” for “Footloose” and reunited with his old producer Jimmy Ienner on the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack.
Despite later success, Carmen still cherished the Raspberries’ legacy. The band briefly reunited in the mid-2000s, performing live and releasing concert albums. He also joined Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, a fitting tribute to the Beatles’ influence.
In recent years, Carmen stepped back from public life, but his music lives on. Songs like “All By Myself” have been featured in major films, and “Go All the Way” found new fans thanks to the “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack.
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