Recording Academy Releases Statement on Death of Eydie Gormé

Famed singer, actress and Broadway star Eydie Gormé died this weekend at age 84. In her remembrance, The Recording Academy released the following statement this afternoon:

"Two-time GRAMMY winner Eydie Gorme was a remarkable pop vocalist who for decades entertained fans as a nightclub performer, recording artist and television personality. Whether performing solo or with her longtime husband Steve Lawrence, Gorme captivated audiences with her smooth, playful voice, memorable songs and vivacious charm. As a bilingual artist, she had success within both the English- and Spanish-language markets with hits such as "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" and "Amor," making her a true crossover star. We mourn her loss along with her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her, and we celebrate the legacy she has left behind."

Gorme's spokesperson Howard Bragman announced the news of her death yesterday. He said: "Legendary singer and performer Eydie Gorme passed away peacefully today at Sunrise Hospital following a brief illness. She was surrounded by her husband, son and other loved ones at the time of her death."

In his own statement, Gorme's husband, Steve Lawrence said: "Eydie has been my partner on stage and in life for more than 55 years. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and even more the first time I heard her sing. While my personal loss is unimaginable, the world has lost one of the greatest pop vocalists of all time."

In addition to a storied recording and television career, she starred alongside her husband in Golden Rainbow on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, notable as being the first Broadway show to open with an advance of over $1 million dollars. The previews for Golden Rainbow began at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia on November 28, 1967, moving to its new location in New York City at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway on December 27, 1967. The musical officially opened on February 4, 1968 at the Shubert, where it played until November 17, 1968. On November 19, 1968, its run resumed at the George Abbott Theatre on Broadway, where Golden Rainbow played until it closed on January 11, 1969.

According to her official iTunes artist biography, For 20 years, from the mid-'50s to the mid-'70s, Gormé consistently scored in the pop charts, with a parallel place in the Latin pop field from the 1960s on. She appeared on television and on the Broadway stage. And she was a major nightclub entertainer, headlining in Las Vegas showrooms and around the U.S. For most of her career, she worked both solo and in a duo with her husband, Steve Lawrence.