(RepublicanPress.org) – The iconic pop music singing duet “Steve and Eydie” entertained the world for over half a century, beginning with their television debut on “Tonight Starring Steve Allen” in 1954. Eydie Gormé retired in 2009 and died in August 2016, less than a week before her 85th birthday. Sadly, recent news reports indicated that Steve Lawrence died at 88.
On March 7, the ABC News program “Good Morning America” (GMA) reported that the beloved Grammy and Emmy award-winning entertainer died from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Amid mounting speculation about his health, Lawrence announced his diagnosis of early onset of the disease in June 2019.
GMA reported that a representative for the beloved singer confirmed his death. Lawrence and Eydie’s son, David Lawrence, maintains a website dedicated to his parents. However, as of March 11, he hadn’t updated the site to reflect his father’s passing.
Steve Lawrence, the entertainer who spent decades as one half of the iconic singing duo Steve & Eydie with wife Eydie Gorme, has died at 88.https://t.co/8LdsqmGuxc
— ABC News (@ABC) March 7, 2024
Lawrence recently posted a statement on his Instagram, discussing a Valentine’s Day celebration at Carnegie Hall honoring Steve and Eydie. The “toast” honored his parents and kicked off an endowment in their names dedicated to the National Youth Orchestra’s jazz program.
David, an Emmy-nominated composer, and Tony Award-winner Debbie Gravitte are scheduled to perform several of his parents’ hits accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra during a March 18 gala at Zankel Hall, a 599-seat concert arena in Carnegie Hall.
Lawrence was born Sidney Liebowitz to Jewish parents in Brooklyn on July 8, 1935. His father was a cantor at a local synagogue, and his mother was a homemaker.
Talk show host Steve Allen hired Lawrence to sing on his local late-night television show when he was 18 years old. Lawrence appeared alongside his future wife, Eydie, and legendary singer Andy Williams. The show was later picked up by NBC and aired nationally. Lawrence and Eydie remained on the program until it ended in 1957.
Lawrence served as a vocal soloist after being drafted by the USA in the late 1950s. Much of his subsequent career consisted of acting and singing roles on television programs like “The Flip Wilson Show,” “The Julie Andrews Hour,” “The Judy Garland Show,” and the “Danny Kaye Show.” He also appeared on “The Carol Burnett Show” several times, with and without Eydie.
Fourteen of Lawrence’s songs appeared on Billboard’s Hot 100, including four Top 10 and one No. 1 hit, “Go Away Little Girl,” which held the top position for two weeks in January 1962. “Footsteps” (1960) peaked at number 7, and “Pretty Blue Eyes” (1960) and “Portrait of My Love” (1961) peaked at number nine. “Walking Proud” (1963) topped out at 26.
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