Eric Carmen, the lead singer of the Raspberries, has passed away at the age of 74.
In a heartfelt message shared on his official website, Carmen’s wife, Amy, announced the sad news of his death.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of Eric’s passing,” Amy Carmen said in her statement. “Over the weekend, our kind, loving, and incredibly talented Eric passed away peacefully in his sleep. He took comfort in knowing that his music touched so many lives, and this will remain his enduring legacy.”
She added, “We ask for privacy as we grieve this unimaginable loss. Love is everything… faithful and forever.”
Carmen rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as the frontman of the Raspberries, a band that made a lasting impact on rock and roll with their power-pop hits.
Fellow musicians also paid tribute to Carmen. Singer John Eddie, in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), expressed his sadness at the news of Carmen’s passing.
“Sad to hear that Eric Carmen has died,” Eddie wrote. “The Raspberries were one of my favorite bands. If you’re a fan of rock ‘n’ roll, ‘Go All The Way’ is the perfect single. That’s why I bought their debut album with the scratch-and-sniff sticker. ‘The Raspberries’ Greatest Hits’ is one of my all-time favorite albums—even the so-called lesser tracks are incredible.”
Eddie reminisced about seeing the Raspberries perform live: “I caught them at an AM radio festival at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The lineup was wild—Slade, The Raspberries, Jim Croce, Lou Reed, and Stevie Wonder. Tickets were about 99 cents! I might be forgetting some acts, but it’s a fond memory from my youth. Today, the kid in me feels a little older. Rest in peace, Eric Carmen, and thanks for the memories.”
Eric Carmen is survived by his wife, Amy, who first shared the news of his passing on Monday.
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