Steve Ellis, singer for the British pop band Love Affair best known for the 1967 hit “Everlasting Love,” died October 30, of complications from a chronic illness. He was 76.
His death was announced on his Facebook page. Ellis lived in Brighton, England, and the family statement notes that he passed peacefully in the presence of loved ones.
Although never a major cultural presence in the United States, Ellis’ band Love Affair had several hits in the UK during the late 1960s and early ’70s in addition to their signature tune “Everlasting Love.” It was a cover of the Robert Knight song that features the memorable chorus “Open up your eyes, then you realize/Here I stand with my everlasting love.”
Watch the music video for the song below.
The Love Affair version went to No. 1 in the UK but failed to chart in the United States. A 1974 cover by Carl Carlton would have the most Stateside success.It appeared in two films: American Psycho in 2000 and in trailers for the 2021 Jamie Dornan film Belfast (Dornan himself performs the song in the actual film).
The Love Affair version caused a stir in the UK shortly after its release when it was revealed that, except for Ellis’ distinctive vocals, the instrumentation had been supplied by session musicians. In addition to Ellis, Love Affair consisted of keyboardist Lynton Guest, guitarist Rex Brayley, drummer Maurice Bacon and bassist Mick Jackson.
While “Everlasting Love” remains the band’s signature tune, other it had three other Top 10 UK singles in 1968-69 with “Rainbow Valley,” “A Day Without Love” and “Bringing on Back the Good Times.” “One Road” reached the Top 20. Ellis left for a solo career in 1969 and continued to record and perform for decades, often with reconstituted versions of Love Affair.
Born Stephen John Ellis in Edgware, Middlesex, on April 7, 1950, Ellis revealed in a Facebook post last year that he was withdrawing from a planned tour due to health issues. “I have never fully recovered from Covid in 2020 and chronic symptoms since have compromised my ability to sustain lengthy touring anymore,” he wrote.
Ellis is survived by his wife Val.
