Steve Ellis, Voice Behind ‘Everlasting Love,’ Dies at 76

Steve Ellis, the singer whose powerful vocals helped make “Everlasting Love” one of the defining hits of the late 1960s, has died at the age of 76.

Ellis rose to fame as the lead singer of British pop-rock band Love Affair. His voice became familiar to millions after the group’s version of the song dominated the charts in 1968.

The news of his death was shared by songwriter David Courtney, a longtime friend of the singer, who announced that Ellis had passed away on October 30.

The song that made Steve Ellis famous

For many music fans, “Everlasting Love” remains closely connected to the summer of 1968. With its energetic rhythm, memorable chorus and Ellis’s distinctive vocals, Love Affair’s recording quickly became a major success.

The song was originally written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden and first recorded by American singer Robert Knight. Love Affair’s version, however, became one of the most recognizable recordings of the era.

The band had initially entered the music scene with “She Smiled Sweetly,” a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. That release failed to achieve significant success, but the group soon found its breakthrough.

Love Affair’s version of “Everlasting Love” reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on January 31, 1968, remaining at the top for two weeks. It also reached the Top 20 in several other European countries.

The success came with an unusual revelation. The band’s record label had reportedly arranged for an orchestra to perform on the recording, meaning Ellis was the only Love Affair member who actually played on the hit version.

Ellis walked away from the teen idol image

Although the song brought him enormous attention, Ellis eventually became uncomfortable with the direction of his career.

He felt increasingly frustrated by the band’s image and the lack of creative control over its music. In a later interview, he explained that he had wanted to perform as part of a real band rather than simply maintain the image created around him.

In 1969, he decided to leave Love Affair and pursue a solo career.

The group briefly continued with another vocalist before eventually breaking up. Ellis later returned to the Love Affair name with a revived lineup known as Steve Ellis’s Love Affair.

His relationship with the music industry also changed over the years. In 1981, he stepped away from performing and took a job working as a docker.

A serious accident changed his life

Ellis later described the physical demands of his work on the docks, saying he had become extremely fit from handling heavy sacks of potatoes.

However, an accident involving a forklift truck left him with serious injuries to both feet.

He recalled spending seven or eight years going in and out of hospitals while undergoing bone graft operations.

Despite the difficult recovery, Ellis eventually found his way back to music.

In 2008, he released the album The Best of Days through Demon Records. The project featured appearances by Paul Weller of The Jam and Roger Daltrey of The Who.

He also briefly performed with New Amen Corner in 2013, showing that his passion for music had remained with him long after his first major success.

Steve Ellis’s cause of death

The news of Ellis’s passing was first announced by songwriter David Courtney, who paid tribute to his longtime friend in a social media post on October 30.

The singer’s official Facebook page later confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement.

According to the announcement, Ellis died peacefully that evening while surrounded by loved ones. His death followed complications related to a chronic illness.

The statement did not provide further details about the illness.

Ellis leaves behind a musical legacy closely associated with one of Britain’s