Steve Lawrence, who sang hits like « Go Away Little Girl » and was part of the pop duo Steve & Eydie with wife Eydie Gormé, has died. He was 88 years old.
Lawrence died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, Susan DuBow, a spokesperson for the family, confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The couple first met on Steve Allen’s « Tonight Show » in 1954 and were married three years later, in 1957.
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Steve Lawrence, seen here with wife and singing partner Eydie Gormé, has died. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)
Their son David Lawrence said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital, « 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. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son. My hope is that his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come. »
Lawrence was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935 and when he was 16, he won Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts competition.
Steve & Eydie were on « The Ed Sullivan Show » and « The Hollywood Palace » in the 1960s and also performed their act on stage in New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Miami.
Lawrence was nominated for a Tony for his 1964-65 performance in Broadway’s « What Makes Sammy Run? » and the couple starred in Broadway’s « Golden Rainbow » in 1968-69.
In the 1970s, Lawrence appeared regularly on « The Carol Burnett Show » and the couple also won numerous Emmy Awards for their TV specials on the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.
« We had a chance to get in on the ground floor of rock ‘n’ roll, » Lawrence once recalled in a 1989 interview about how the couple were approached about changing their style. « It was 1957 and everything was changing, but I wanted to be Sinatra, not Rick Nelson. »
He joked, « Our audience knows we’re not going to load up on heavy metal or set fire to the drummer — although on some nights we’ve talked about it. »
Along with « Go Away Little Girl, » Lawrence also had hits like « Pretty Blue Eyes » and « I Gotta Be Me. »
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The couple also won a Grammy for their 1960 album « We Got Us. »
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
