Steve Ellis, teen idol and iconic voice behind ‘Everlasting Love,’ dies at 76
Steve Ellis, the singer who rose to fame as the frontman of Love Affair, has died at the age of 76.
Became a familiar name
For anyone who grew up in the late ’60s, the summer of 1968 brings back memories of a very different time. The radio was playing in living rooms, cars and dance halls, young people were discovering the sounds of a changing generation, and one song seemed to be everywhere.
Love Affair’s version of Everlasting Love, with Steve Ellis on lead vocals, became a huge hit that year. Originally written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, the song captured the spirit of the era with its infectious rhythm, soaring vocals and irresistible chorus.
The London pop-rock band Love Affair first appeared on the music scene with ”She Smiled Sweetly,” a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. However, their debut failed to make much of an impression.
That would soon change. By the late 1960s, the group had become a familiar name on the British music scene, scoring a string of hits, most notably their version of ”Everlasting Love.”
The song had originally been recorded by American singer Robert Knight, and Love Affair’s cover would go on to become one of the defining hits of the era.
