The singer-songwriter famous for the hit song “All By Myself,” Eric Carmen, has passed away at the age of 74, as confirmed by his wife.
The American star gained prominence as a member of the power pop group the Raspberries before transitioning into a successful solo career.
One of his notable solo successes, “Hungry Eyes,” was prominently featured in the cult classic film “Dirty Dancing” in 1987.
“Our sweet, loving and talented Eric passed away in his sleep, over the weekend,” Carmen’s wife Amy said in a statement on his official website.
“It brought him great joy to know, that for decades, his music touched so many and will be his lasting legacy.”
She concluded the statement with a quote from his 1977 solo album “Boats Against The Current”: “love is all that matters… faithful and forever.”
Born in Ohio, the singer co-founded the Raspberries in the early 1970s alongside Jim Bonfanti and Wally Bryson, later joined by Dave Smalley after John Aleksic’s departure.
Their debut album “Raspberries” in 1972 featured tracks that achieved chart success, including “Go All The Way,” which was initially banned by the BBC in the UK for sexually suggestive lyrics and later included on the 2014 “Guardians Of The Galaxy” soundtrack.
After four albums together, the band disbanded in 1975, leading Carmen to pursue a solo career.
One of his most notable solo tracks is “All By Myself,” which became a major hit when Canadian singer Celine Dion covered it. The song was also featured in the opening scene of “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”
As a songwriter, Carmen penned hits such as “Almost Paradise” from the “Footloose” soundtrack, along with “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” and “Make Me Lose Control.”