The world mourns the passing of music legend Eric Carmen, known for his popular rendition of All By Myself. He rose to fame when he joined the band Raspberries before finding a steady solo career. Carmen’s death was confirmed by his wife.
The singer-songwriter is also known for his guitar-playing prowess and putting an emphasis on soft rock and power ballads.
Rock Music Icon Eric Carmen Has Passed Away
Eric Carmen’s official website made the announcement of his passing. His wife, Amy Carmen, revealed that the icon left the world last weekend at age 74, although no cause of death was given. The message praised the singer’s lasting legacy in the music industry.
“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.”
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Carmen co-founded the Raspberries in the early 1970s with Wally Bryson and Jim Bonfanti. The band was later established with additional member Dave Smalley after John Aleksic’s exit. His wife’s tribute continued:
“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.”
The Raspberries released their self-titled album in 1972 with chart-topping songs like ‘Go All The Way’. Unfortunately, it was banned by the BBC in the UK for its suggestive lyrics. Fans would recognize the song from 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.
After releasing four successful albums, Carmen left the group and embarked on a solo career. His famous piece was ‘All By Myself’, which was later popularized by Canadian singer Celine Dion. In his interview via Pop Matters, he explained what the song meant for him:
“I wanted it to be a radical departure from the Raspberries. I didn’t want it to be just, like, ‘Here’s Eric, and he’s a continuation of what he did.’ ”
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The song ended up on the list of Classic Rock magazine’s 40 greatest power ballads of all time. It was inspired by a melody from Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto.
Eric Carmen And Raspberries Fans Remember The Late Music Legend
Many music fans were left devastated by the news of Eric Carmen’s untimely passing. The singer has become a staple name in the rock industry and inspired not only fans but other musicians as well. Check out fans’ reactions below:
RIP Eric. I loved "All By Myself". Listened to it on the radio on my way to school.
— N3GAN🚽 (@N3GANTheReaper) March 12, 2024
Oh no!! I absolutely love his music. This is awful news.
— Anne Marie (@AnneMarieNYNY) March 12, 2024
Wow, this saddens me more than I would have expected.
— B A Schuyler – Sheep Queen 🐑🌻💙💛 (@XNativeNooYawka) March 12, 2024
Im sorry to hear this. “Change of Heart” instantly brings me back to 6th grade in SF in 1978. RIP❤️
— Miss Meg (@meggiecarly) March 12, 2024
He was a very nice to me and even wished me a happy birthday a while back. I will miss him 😢
— Veronica (PR Manager) For #CreaturesOfClay (@RoverDov123) March 12, 2024
Ah, dang. I just thought about him not long ago and was looking to see if he was on social media. “Go All the Way” is one of the all time great songs. RIP.
— Random American (@ThanksElon3) March 12, 2024
Carmen refused to join Raspberries when they reunited in 1999 though he sang with the group onstage in 2004 for a show at Cleveland’s House of Blues. The band also embarked on a mini-tour in 2005. Their last performance together was in December 2007 at Cleveland’s KeyBank State Theatre.
Some of Carmen’s other greatest solo hits include Never Gonna Fall in Love Again, Make Me Lose Control, and Hungry Eyes. He is survived by his wife and two children, Clayton and Kathryn.
