Delete WardEric Carmen and the Raspberries to be Honored with Music Keynote
Aug 07, 2024
Join Councilman Brian Kazy, other Council members and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials in celebrating Eric Carmen and the Raspberries Thursday (8/8) and awarding them the second annual “Music Keynote to the City” as well as screening the world premiere of a reunion concert movie immediately following the presentation.
The special event begins at 12:30 pm Aug. 8th at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s plaza. A video with over 25 music artists and sports figures will be shown congratulating the Raspberries. The never-before-seen concert movie, recorded in HD on Nov. 30, 2007 in L.A., will be shown on the plaza.
Eric Carmen’s widow Amy will be accepting the award for him posthumously, and other band members will be in attendance. August 11th , Eric’s birthday, will be declared Eric Carmen Day.
As lead singer and songwriter for the Raspberries, the band had numerous hits including the top-5, million-selling “Go All The Way,” “I Wanna Be With You,” “Let’s Pretend,” and “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)” – one of Rolling Stone magazine’s best records of 1974.
Eric and the Raspberries released four studio albums before disbanding for a time. The classic lineup reunited in 2004, playing 16 shows to sellout crowds across the country, the first of which – in Cleveland - sold out in 4 minutes. Afterwards, the Raspberries released two concert recordings, 2007’s “Live On Sunset Strip,” recorded at the band’s 2004 first reunion concert. The band’s last performance was at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum as headliners for a private VIP concert during 2009’s Induction Week festivities. Prior to the band reuniting in 2004, he toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band.
Eric also had success as a solo artist, with hits including “All By Myself,” “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,” “Hungry Eyes,” the top 3 smash “Make Me Lose Control,” “Almost Paradise,” “That's Rock 'n Roll,” and “She Did It.”
Eric’s songs have been recorded and performed by a diverse group of dozens of international artists including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Ann Wilson, Sheryl Crow, Patti LaBelle, Axl Rose, Motley Crue, Hank Williams Jr., Henry Mancini, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John, The Bay City Rollers, and Frankie Valli. Eric has written and/or recorded songs on various albums and soundtrack recordings that have sold in excess of 100,000,000 records worldwide, either as a solo artist, with Raspberries or by artists covering Eric’s songs.
For more information contact Councilman Kazy at 216-664-2942 or bkazy@clevelandcitycouncil.org. The media is being asked to arrive at noon and RSVP to J.R. Johnson, Director of Communications, at jjohnson@rockhall.org.