Eric Carmen, Raspberries Singer of ‘Go All the Way’ and Solo Star, Dies
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Raspberries with Eric Carmen at upper right (Photo from his website)
Eric Carmen, who led the American power pop band Raspberries to a series of ’70s hits including “Go All the Way,” and later scored several solo hits including “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes,” has died. His death over the weekend, at age 74, was announced on his website by his wife, Amy Carmen, Monday evening, March 11, 2024. Neither the cause of death nor place was revealed.
The complete announcement reads: It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen. 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.
“Love Is All That Matters…Faithful and Forever”
From the Raspberries’ website: In the early Seventies, Eric Carmen and Jim Bonfanti recognized that a huge void existed for the kind of music that would rekindle the glory days of the Beatles, the Who, and the Beach Boys. Along with Wally Bryson and Dave Smalley their new band – Raspberries – produced a head-on collision with the progressive rock scene and coined the “Power Pop” sound, which featured explosive rock guitars combined with soaring two and four-part pop harmonies.
Raspberries played their first show on October 16, 1970. Weekly gigs at the Agora in Cleveland created a groundswell of support for this new hot local band whose reputation as a live act was already becoming legendary, and before long they were attracting more than 1,000 people a night. Signed to Capitol Records by noted producer Jimmy Ienner in the winter of 1971 they completed their first album, Raspberries. To create excitement about this new band, Capitol employed a raspberry-scented scratch-and-sniff sticker affixed to the cover of their debut, the aroma of which exists to this day.
Released in early 1972, the album, produced by Ienner, showcased the powerhouse top 5 single, “Go All The Way,” written by Carmen, which became a million-seller and Raspberries’ first gold record. Raspberries garnered rave notices from almost every music publication of the day with Rolling Stone providing their most impassioned review: “Raspberries opens with the finest burst of lightweight English rock I’ve heard all year. The rest of the album is just as good.” Following the album’s release, Raspberries toured with the Grass Roots and the Hollies and appeared in front of over 50,000 fans at a major outdoor rock festival held at the Los Angeles Coliseum with such acts as Stevie Wonder, Sly & the Family Stone, the Bee Gees, Eagles and Chuck Berry.
Raspberries’ second LP, Fresh, contained the hits “I Wanna Be With You” and “Let’s Pretend” and saw the band embarking on a European tour. The group’s third album, 1973’s Side 3, demonstrated a clear evolution in the band’s sound and Eric, Wally and Dave’s songwriting skills and featured the standout rock tracks “Tonight” and “Ecstasy.” During this time, Raspberries’ media profile was further heightened by appearances on the television shows Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert and The Midnight Special.
Watch them perform “I Wanna Be With You” on The Midnight Special in 1973
A career highlight was the band’s sold-out concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall on September 26, 1973, which has achieved near mythical status among their fan base. Raspberries’ final LP, ironically titled Starting Over, included what many critics and fans alike still consider to be one of the best singles ever recorded, the Top 20 “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).”
The band broke up in 1975 and Carmen immediately found success as a solo artist. Signed to Clive Davis’ Arista label, he reunited with Ienner and earned a smash with “All By Myself,” which reached #2 that year. Other hits followed, including “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again.” Carmen also co-wrote (with Dean Pitchford) the hit duet, “Almost Paradise (Love Theme From Footloose),” sung by Heart’s Ann Wilson and Mike Reno of Loverboy for the 1984 film.
In 1987, he and Ienner teamed up once more when he recorded “Hungry Eyes” for the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing, that Ienner executive produced. The single became Carmen’s biggest hit in over a decade, reaching #4 on the Hot 100. The soundtrack was certified 14x Platinum.
On November 26, 2004, 31 years since their last performance, Raspberries’ classic lineup of Eric Carmen, Jim Bonfanti, Wally Bryson and Dave Smalley reunited at Cleveland’s House of Blues for a show that sold out in four minutes. A handful of additional shows in 2005 produced SRO crowds and rave reviews from both critics and peers alike. Artists such as Paul Stanley, Rick Springfield, Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Van Zandt, Max Weinberg, Desmond Child, as well as members of The Romantics, Blondie, the Go-Go’s and other peers attended their shows, and Bruce Springsteen affectionately spoke of the band at three of his concerts in the summer of 2005.
Carmen was born on August 11, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was classically trained on piano but in his mid-teens, he taught himself how to play the guitar.
Raspberries’ recordings are available here.
Related: 10 great power pop songs
The loss of Eric Carmen really hurts. The Raspberries were the best power pop group ever. “Ecstasy” was my favorite.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 12, 2024
From Rick Springfield: This is almost more than I can stand. I have always been a huge Eric fan. Amazing singer. Amazing writer. Good human. Why do we have to wait until we pass before we acknowledge what they mean to us.
In 1974 I opened for the Raspberries in high school gyms throughout the nation. And we’ve followed each others careers ever since. Me through his transformation from stunning Raspberries singer writer to his solo monster “All By Myself” and beyond.
Just a brilliant musician that lesser artists have surpassed in fame but not talent.
May God speed your spirit home sweet Eric.
Morgan Fairchild wrote, “I’m so very sorry to hear Eric has passed away. We dated for a bit in the ’70s and he was such a huge talent. My condolences to his family.”
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe Raspberries were one of my faves growing up. I think Casey Kasem did the “story” of people passing out from the “scratch & sniff” sticker. Loved the final cut, “I Can Remember”.
Later in the 70s, I was working graveyard at a gas station (we still wiped windows and checked oil!), and the local Top 40 station would play “Sunrise” with that gorgeous opening, as dawn broke. It was lovely.
One of the most under rated lead singers of all time. Seeing him live, he just blew you away. He was such a force live. The music world lost a great one. RIP Eric.
I saw Eric Carmen perform live as part of Ringo’s All Starr Band back in the early 90’s. (Jack Bruce was on bass, with Dave Edmunds on guitar. What a band!) Carmen was great. He was a talented guy, and it’s sad to see these wonderful musicians passing away.
First heard the Raspberries when they performed at a street festival in downtown Cleveland in the early 70’s. They made an impression as successors to the Beatles who had recently broken up. Their edgy harmonies and bright guitar riffs were top shelf. Proud Eric remained a resident artist here for so long. R.I.P.