In 2019 we lost many musicians Dr. John, Dick Dale, Peter Tork (The Monkees), Keith Flint (The Prodigy), Kyle Pavone (We Came as Romans), Phil McCormack (Molly Hatchet), & Ginger Baker (Cream), but none are as big as Eddie Money and Ric Osacek (The Cars).





Here are my entries in my most recent book that I am working on about Eddie Money & Ric Osacek of The Cars.

“The Money Man” as he was nicknamed or better known as Eddie Money died from complications from his heart valve procedure he received a few months ago. A long term smoker was diagnosed late last year with esophageal stage 4 cancer. He made the announcement on season two of the AXS TV reality show Real Money. He was 70. His career spanned more than four decades and he has sold over 28 million records. He is survived by his wife and five children.





Eddie Money is not in the Rock & Roll of Fame, (for shame) but with hits like “Take Me Home Tonight”, “Two Tickets to Paradise”, “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”, “Shakin”, & “I Think I am In Love” he is probably well deserving, but the native Brooklyn, New Yorker and former police officer has never been nominated. Imagine that, but The Moody Blues and Sister Rosetta Thorpe can be in… I just don’t get it.





Interesting Michigan side note... Eddie Money has opened DTE Energy Music Theater (or Pine Knob) for 28 straight years dating back to 1992. His most recent and final concert was on May 25, 2019. I did see him once; like a while back, in 2008 at Dearborn Homecoming. I don’t remember much accept his daughter singing and him going off and referring to himself on this is what Justin Timberlake will look like in 30 years. I did hear he cost Dearborn a pretty penny for that show.





My brother has his own Eddie Money story... when he was standing at a jukebox putting money in at The Oak Cafe in Wyandotte, a girl walked up to him and told him to play “Take Me Home Tonight”. He didn’t catch on right away, but played her request (just the song) and sat back alone at the bar. I think that was a pretty obvious hint. I might try that one and see if it actually works.





Another death in the rock world… Ric Ocasek died from heart failure as well. He was 75 and found in his Manhattan apartment, he was recovering from surgery, but seemed to die of natural causes there was no indication of foul play. He was found by his estranged wife Pavlína Pořízková. They had separated back in May and were married for 28 years (I bet he cut her out of the Will). He and The Cars were just inducted last year into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year which is cool. I like The Cars, like I said they are super fun and have short dance able tunes with some cool videos. I really like “Drive” it’s my clear favorite, but they have some other songs. They were a fixture for the early 80’s and MTV with some creative videos for the time. The Cars had seven albums, the first five did really well with hits like “Shake It Up”, “You Might Think”, “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Magic”, “Just What I Needed”, and “Let the Good Times Roll”. They disbanded in 1988, but got back together for one last album in 2011. Ocasek is survived by his six sons. He was also married three times.



