Steve Lawrence, the singer who rose to fame in the ’50s and ’60s by singing with his wife in the duo Steve and Eydie, has died.
“My Dad was an inspiration to so many people. But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife,” his son, composer and performer David Lawrence, said in a statement to Deadline.
“I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son,” he continued. “My hope is that his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come.”
Lawrence died Thursday from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. He was 88.
Reps for Lawrence did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Lawrence performed with his wife, Eydie Gormé, around the world until 2009. She retired over health-related concerns, according to the Washington Post. She died at the age of 84 in 2013.
Lawrence, meanwhile, continued to tour until 2019, when he received his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
The actor, comedian and vocalist skyrocketed to fame with Eydie, whom he married in 1957, after they met on “The Tonight Show,” which starred Steve Allen.
Just a year after walking down the aisle, the happy couple scored their own variety show, “The Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé Show,” which ran for a season in 1958.
They went on to win a Grammy for best performance by a vocal duo or group and an Emmy for their television special “Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin” in 1979.
“I’m very thankful that Eydie and I, not only do we have a great love, (but) a great friendship,” Lawrence once said about their relationship, per Variety.
“I think a relationship either works or doesn’t… I think, also, you have to work at it … We’re married people, you know? We fight, and one of the best shows we ever had was on the heels of an argument in the dressing room.”
Lawrence also had an impressive solo career, scoring Top 10 hits with 1959’s “Pretty Blue Eyes,” 1960’s “Footsteps,” 1961’s “Portrait Of My Love” and 1962’s No. 1 hit, “Go Away Little Girl.”
He booked several television appearances as well, including “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” “The Judy Garland Show,” “The Julie Andrews Hour” and several others.
Lawrence displayed his talent on the big screen, too, most notably portraying talent manager Maury Sline in 1980’s “Blues Brothers” and its two sequels.
Furthermore, he earned a Tony nomination for playing Sammy Glick in Broadway’s “What Makes Sammy Run” in 1964.
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Lawrence always knew he would be a performer and was greatly inspired by Frank Sinatra.
“When I was a very young boy, I was a choir boy and then just graduated I think, the first time I heard my first Frank Sinatra record,” he told Gary James of classicbands.com.
“I must’ve been fifteen years old when I heard him. I think I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my musical life,” he further recalled.
“I think his influence not only on me, but everyone who came after him, was so indelible, so powerful. He opened a brand new window for all of us who came after him.”
Lawrence is survived by his son, his daughter-in-law Faye, granddaughter Mabel and brother Bernie. He was predeceased by his son, Michael.
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