EDDIE MONEY,
1949-2019

Eddie Money, the former cop turned singer who became a hitmaker with “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise,” and “Take Me Home Tonight,” died today at the age of 70.

Four weeks ago, Money revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer.

The family announced Money’s death with a statement given to Variety: “The Money Family regrets to announce that Eddie passed away peacefully early this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he will live on forever through his music.”

Most recently, Money had been starring in the reality TV television series Real Money that began airing on AXS last year. Money had been active in film, TV and ads for three decades.

Born Edward Mahoney in Brooklyn, he was a New York City cop for two years before moving to Northern California where Bill Graham took him under his wing. Money signed with Columbia in 1977 and his debut album, which featured “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise,” went double platinum.

He would have 11 Top 40 singles in the 1970s and ‘80s. His 1986 duet with Ronnie Spector, “Take Me Home Tonight,” was his biggest hit, reaching #4; 1979’s Life for the Taking was his highest charting album, reaching #17.

Money made the transition into the MTV era through humorous videos for songs such as “Think I’m in Love” and “Shakin’.” He last charted with “The Love in Your Eyes” reaching #24 in 1989.