Cleveland rocker Eric Carmen, solo star, Raspberries leader and Ringo Starr bandmate, dies at 74
Eric Carmen, the writer and performer behind the hit ballad "All By Myself," died at age 74, according to a statement on his website.
The Cleveland native died in his sleep. His wife, Amy, posted a message on his website late Monday night:
“It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen," the statement read. "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.”
Carmen’s former manager David Spero also released a statement: “I just heard the news that my lifelong friend and former client Eric Carmen has passed away. His talents were world renowned and his legacy as a songwriter is known throughout the industry. His songs were done by everyone from Celine Dion to Hank Williams Jr. He will be missed. RIP Eric!”
Carmen had a sizable net worth at the time of his death thanks to a decades-long music career that included several hit songs.
Eric Carmen's net worth at the time of his death
Carmen wrote more than 130 songs in his career, according to his American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers profile page. The list includes songs he performed as a solo artist as well as tunes by The Raspberries, the Cleveland power pop band Carmen co-founded in the 1970s.
His long and successful career helped Carmen's net worth climb to an estimated $10 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Read more: Cleveland rocker Eric Carmen, former Raspberries leader and solo star, dies at 74
How many Eric Carmen songs made the Billboard charts?
Carmen performed five songs that made the top 20 on the Billboard charts.
"Hungry Eyes" spent 25 weeks on the charts in late 1987 and 1988, peaking at No. 4. Carmen had higher-charting songs earlier in his solo career.
"All By Myself" rose to No. 2 on the singles chart in 1976. Several notable artists covered the song, including Celne Dion, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones.
"Make Me Lose Control" went to No. 3 in 1988 during a 20-week run on the charts. "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" hit No. 11 and "Change of Heart" climbed to No. 19 on the Billboard charts.
Carmen had another eight songs make the Billboard top 100 during his solo career.
Carmen and The Raspberries had hit with ‘Go All the Way’
After growing up in the Cleveland band scene, Carmen hit it big with Wally Bryson, Jim Bonfanti and Dave Smalley in the Raspberries.
Their self-titled first album, released by Capitol in 1970, included the million-selling smash “Go All the Way.” The group’s other big 1970s hits included “I Wanna Be With You,” “Let’s Pretend,” “Tonight” and “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).”
When the Raspberries disbanded in 1975, Carmen, a guitarist and pianist, began his successful career as a solo artist.
Carmen grew up in the Cleveland area
Carmen was born in Cleveland in 1949, the son of Elmer and Ruth Carmen. As he told the Beacon Journal before a 1976 concert at the Akron Civic Theatre:
“I grew up in Lyndhurst, a nice Jewish boy, went to Brush High School. My dad’s a head contract administrator for a company that makes torpedoes and underwater testing devices for the Navy. He’s a big business wheel. He’s into it. My parents weren’t too crazy about me getting into rock ’n’ roll. When I wrote a song that became a gold record, they got used to it.”
He was a musical prodigy as a kid. He could sing before most kids could talk. At 3 years old, he was the youngest student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and learned to play violin and piano.
He played in Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band
After a 20-year hiatus from performing live, Carmen returned to the stage in 2000 for a concert at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and touring with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
“I had met Ringo various times in the past,” he recalled. “When I heard he was going to do another tour, and he wanted to know if I was interested in doing this, I was so thrilled.”
The touring iteration of the band also featured Starr on drums, Jack Bruce (Cream) on bass, Dave Edmunds on guitar and Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company) co-drumming with Starr.
“You have a Beatle ... a member of Cream and Dave Edmunds, who is one of my favorite guitarists and producers,” Carmen said. “What else can I say? I can’t imagine saying no to a Beatle.”
In 2004, the Raspberries reunited for a concert at the House of Blues in Cleveland, which led to the group’s first tour in 30 years. Carmen had mostly kept a low profile in recent years.
Fans mourn Eric Carmen
Fans turned to Facebook to express their sadness after learning of Carmen’s passing.
“I’m utterly crushed,” Maura Kennedy wrote. “What a huge influence his music has been in my life.”
“Such an amazing talent,” Heath Kunde posted. “Songwriting, voice, melody, guitar playing. He couldn’t be beat.”
“Words cannot express the sadness of this news,” Cheryl Duncan wrote. “His music is balm for the soul. Unbelievable that voice and talent is silenced.”
“Thank you, Eric, for the music and memories,” Neil Hancock posted.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Eric Carmen: Hit songs, net worth when Cleveland musician died
