Eric Carmen, the musician and songwriter who first found fame as part of pop-rock group, the Raspberries then later going solo to achieve even greater success, has passed away on March 11th at the age of seventy-four. No cause of death has been revealed at this time.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, music had played an important part of his life since he was a child, being classically trained to play the piano and the violin. But after discovering rock & roll as a teenager, Carmen taught himself how to play the guitar and joined several rock bands. By the time he attended college, Carmen became certain that his career would involve music.
In 1970, Carmen joined Wally Bryson on lead guitar, rhythm guitarist, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti on drums to form the Raspberries. After recording some demos, with Carmen performing lead vocals, playing bass and writing many of their originals songs, several record labels became interested and the Raspberries signed with Capital Records. The band's self-titled debut became an instant success with their biggest hit, "Go All the Way" reaching number five on the US pop chart in 1972. The Raspberries would make three more albums but tensions grew within the group, largely over Carmen's creative dominance in the band. With members exiting and new musicians joining, the Raspberries would come to an end in 1975.
Carmen wasted no time and began a solo career. His self-titled debut album was released later that year and contained two big hits; "All By Myself" which made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" which just missed reaching the top ten on the chart. Carmen also made the chart writing pop songs for actor-turned-singer, Shaun Cassidy with "That's Rock and Roll" which peaked at number three in 1977 and "Hey Deanie" which hit the top ten the following year.
Carmen co-wrote with Dean Pitchford, "Almost Paradise" for the 1984 film, "Footloose" performed by Ann Wilson of Heart and Mike Reno of Loverboy, reaching number seven on the pop chart. And Carmen's last major charting hits for himself were "Hungry Eyes" for the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack and "Make Me Lose Control" a single that appeared on his greatest hits collection in 1988. Carmen would release his final album, "I Was Born to Love You" in 2000 and became part of the tour with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band.
Carmen wasted no time and began a solo career. His self-titled debut album was released later that year and contained two big hits; "All By Myself" which made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" which just missed reaching the top ten on the chart. Carmen also made the chart writing pop songs for actor-turned-singer, Shaun Cassidy with "That's Rock and Roll" which peaked at number three in 1977 and "Hey Deanie" which hit the top ten the following year.
Carmen co-wrote with Dean Pitchford, "Almost Paradise" for the 1984 film, "Footloose" performed by Ann Wilson of Heart and Mike Reno of Loverboy, reaching number seven on the pop chart. And Carmen's last major charting hits for himself were "Hungry Eyes" for the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack and "Make Me Lose Control" a single that appeared on his greatest hits collection in 1988. Carmen would release his final album, "I Was Born to Love You" in 2000 and became part of the tour with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band.
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