Eric Carmen, the lead singer of Raspberries and a solo artist known for hits such as ‘All By Myself’ and ‘Hungry Eyes’, has passed away at the age of 74. His death was confirmed by his wife, Amy Carmen, who posted an update on his website. She announced that he had passed away in his sleep and asked that the family’s privacy be respected during their time of mourning. Carmen became an icon of the early-’70s power pop scene with Raspberries before embarking on a successful solo career.
Many musicians took to social media to offer their condolences following Carmen’s death. KISS frontman Paul Stanley described Carmen as a “true rocker at heart” and praised his band, The Raspberries, as a “killer band live.” SiriusXM host Eric Alper and Eddie Trunk both shared heartfelt tributes, with Trunk stating that Carmen and The Raspberries were the first rock music he had ever heard and that Carmen’s music had set him on his path to a career in music.
During his time with Raspberries, the band rose to fame for its Beatles-inspired pop sound which rebelled against the heavy, glam and prog genres that were popular in the ‘70s. The group shared a number of hits before breaking up in the mid-’70s, after which Carmen launched his solo career. He released a number of successful tracks such as ‘All by Myself’, ‘Never Gonna Fall in Love Again’ and ‘Hey Deanie’; the latter of which became a hit for Shaun Cassidy. He continued into the ’80s with songs like ‘Hungry Eyes’, which famously appeared in the film Dirty Dancing.
Despite Carmen’s passing, his legacy lives on through his music, which touched the hearts of many and earned him a devoted fan base. His influence on the early-’70s power pop scene and his successful solo career have cemented his place in the annals of music history
Read the full article on NME here: Read More