The music world mourns the loss of Eric Carmen, a distinguished singer-songwriter behind the timeless ballad “All By Myself” and the evocative “Hungry Eyes,” who passed away at the age of 74.
His wife wrote a brief but touching farewell message on his website while confirming the news of his death. It reads,
“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 journey in music began in Ohio, where he was deeply immersed in the craft from a young age. He first gained prominence with the Raspberries, a band that delivered hits like “Go All The Way,” before starting his own successful solo career that produced several chart-toppers.
His music was often inspired by classical compositions which brought a sort of richness to the pop genre. Eric Carmen’s adaptation of Sergei Rachmaninov’s works into pop ballads like “All By Myself” and “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” easily displayed his creativity with music.
Furthermore, his contribution to the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack with “Hungry Eyes” saw a resurgence in his career, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. The following year, his piano pop “Make Me Lose Control” mirrored this success, reaching No. 3.
Despite his chart-topping days being behind him, Carmen remained a beloved figure in the music scene. He toured with Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band in 2000 and reunited with the Raspberries for live performances in 2004.
Eric Carmen is survived by his wife, Amy, and their two children, Clayton and Kathryn. His cause of death was not revealed.
