Eric Carmen, the hitmaker behind ’70s and ’80s hits like “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes,” has died at age 74, his wife Amy confirmed.
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“It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen,” says a message posted on his website, and his Facebook and X accounts. “He was very happy to know that, for decades, his music touched so many people and will be his lasting legacy. ‘Love is all that matters… Faithful and forever,’” concludes the message signed by Amy Carmen, his wife of eight years.
Throughout her decades-long career, which began in earnest during her student years at John Carroll University in her home state of Ohio, when she joined a band called Cyrus Erie, Carmen achieved three top 5 Billboard hits. Hot 100: No. 2 “All By Myself” in 1976, followed by the featured song on the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing “Hungry Eyes,” which reached No. 4 in 1988, and “Make Me Lose Control,” which reached No. 3, also in 1988. Her highest-charting album was her self-titled solo debut, which reached No. No. 21 in 1976.
In addition to achieving success on the soundtrack of Dirty DancingCarmen also co-wrote “Almost Paradise… Love Theme from Footloose” (performed by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson) for the soundtrack of Footlooseearning him his only Grammy nomination for Best Original Soundtrack Album Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.
Before his successful solo career, he recorded four albums with The Raspberries between 1972 and 1974. They scored a No. 5 hit from their 1972 debut album, “Go All the Way,” and a top 20 hit with “Overnight Sensation.” (Hit Record)”, which reached No. 18 in 1974.
Many of Carmen’s songs have endured thanks to remakes that permeated pop culture, including Celine Dion’s cover of “All By Myself,” which reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1997; “Go All the Way,” which appeared on the soundtrack Guardians of Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 in 2014; and their co-written “Almost Paradise,” which served as the theme song for Bachelor in Paradise, a spin-off of The Bachelorin 2014.