Eric Carmen, Raspberries Frontman and “All By Myself” Singer, Dies at 74

Eric Carmen, the frontman of pop rock band the Raspberries who would later go on to have a successful solo career with hits such as “All By Myself,” “Hungry Eyes” and “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again,” has died. He was 74.

Carmen’s wife Amy posted news of the singer’s death on his official website. “It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen,” Amy Carmen wrote. “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.”

No cause of death was given.

In a music career that spanned four decades, Carmen won a following, and found chart success, for his rich, high tenor voice that made him one of the unique singers in pop history. With the Raspberries, Carmen and his bandmates, via hits such as “Go All the Way” and “Let’s Pretend,” laid the foundations for power pop music that would become popular after the band disbanded. As a solo act, Carmen became synonymous with slick power ballads such as “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again,” “She Did It, “Hungry Eyes,” “Make Me Lose Control” and of course “All By Myself,” that charted the world over and have become classics.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 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 Rolling Stones, the Who and the Kinks, were an early and important influence on Carmen.

After appearing in a several local Cleveland bands, including The Choir, Carmen along with Wally Bryson, Jim Bonfanti and Dave Smalley formed the Raspberries. The band released their first, eponymous, studio album in 1972 via Capitol, that featured the power pop they became famed for. Although the album didn’t crack the top 50 of the Billboard charts, the record featured the singles “Don’t Want to Say Goodbye,” which reached No. 86 on the charts, and “Go All the Way,” that hit No. 5.

The Raspberries would release three further studio albums — Fresh (1972), Side 3 (1973) and Starting Over (1974) — but the band’s had lost commercial momentum and disbanded in 1975. The band’s other notable songs include “I Wanna Be With You,” “Tonight” and “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).” Carmen had written or co-written all the Raspberries songs.

More to come…