Raspberry leader Eric Carmen dies at 74
Eric Carmen, who became a power pop icon as the frontman of the Raspberries before scoring even bigger hits as a solo artist in the 1970s and ’80s, has died at the age of 74.
Carmen’s wife Amy posted the news of the singer’s death on his official website. “It is with great sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carman,” Amy Carman wrote. “Our sweet, loving and talented Eric passed away in his sleep over the weekend. It brings him great joy to know that his music has impacted so many people over the decades and that this will be his lasting legacy. Please respect the family’s privacy as we mourn our tremendous loss. Also read – Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene” be on Beyoncé country song?
Eric Carmen’s Journey to becoming a star
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 11, 1949, Carmen was singing and playing instruments from an early age and became a classically trained pianist. The British Invasion bands of the mid-1960s, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks, were an early and significant influence on Carmen. During his college years at John Carroll University, he joined a band called Cyrus Erie, which recorded several commercially unsuccessful singles for Epic Records. Cyrus was playing with his friends Jim Bonfanti and Dave Smalley in the Choir, one of Cleveland’s most popular bands, scoring a minor national hit in 1967 with the single “It’s Cold Outside”.
When Cyrus Erie and the Choir disbanded in the late 1960s, Carmen, Bryson, Bonfanti and Smalley teamed up to form The Raspberries, Carmen recorded four albums with The Raspberries from 1972 to 1974. Had a top 20 hit with the album. However, the band lost commercial momentum and disbanded in 1975.
Now a solo act, Carmen found immediate success with his debut album, “All By Myself”, released in November 1975, which de-emphasized hard rock elements in favour of soft rock and power ballads.
In 2004, Eric Carmen reunited the band with original Raspberries members Jim Bonfanti, Wally Bryson, and Dave Smalley for a series of sold-out live performances in cities across the United States. On that tour, the Raspberries recorded a live album of their hit songs at The House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.
What is Eric Carmen’s Biggest Hits?
Some of the Biggest hits by Eric Carmen that were most loved by people were the solo albums that make him more popular in the music industry.
1. “All By Myself” which was released in December 1975as the first solo song of Carmen which ranks at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in Canada Adult Contemporary, US Cash Box Top 100 and at US Record World Singles
2. “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” is the 2nd solo album of Carmen that ranked at #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in Canadian RPM Top Singles, Canadian Adult Contemporary
3. “She Did It” released in 1977 ranked at #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #11 in Canadian RPM Top Singles.
4. “Hungry Eye” was released in 1987 and was featured in the movie Dirty Dancing, which ranked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in Canadian RPM Top Singles.
5. “Make Me Lose Control” was released in 1984 the song was co-written by Dean Pitchford, that ranked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #2 in Canadian RPM Top Singles, #1 in Canadian Adult Contemporary and #1 at U.S Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks.