FOX 8’s Stefani Schaefer reflects on long-time friendship with Eric Carmen

(WJW) – FOX 8’s Stefani Schaefer is among those grieving the loss of singer-songwriter and Cleveland native Eric Carmen.

To many, he was known for his lasting legacy through music but to Stefani and her children the Carmen family are long-time friends.

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On FOX 8 News in the Morning, Stefani shared a picture of her and Carmen that dates back about 30 years ago.

Carmen, who was born in the Cleveland suburbs in 1949, was a member of the pop rock band “Raspberries,” known for the hit song “Go All The Way.” As a solo artist, he was known for singles like “All By Myself,” “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,” and “Hungry Eyes,” which would appear in the 1987 classic “Dirty Dancing.”

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Stefani said Carmen grew up in Cleveland, followed his career to California but ended up settling down in Northeast Ohio and raised his children here.

“Just very, very heavy heart. Very sad,” said Stefani. “I ended up becoming friends with him and his wife, Susan, then, and their children were very close in age with my kids.”

Carmen’s family shared the news on the musician’s website, saying he passed away in his sleep over the weekend. He was 74.

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