Steve Ellis, the powerful voice behind Love Affair’s ‘Everlasting Love’, dies at 76

Steve Ellis, the frontman of the iconic 1960s pop-rock band Love Affair, has passed away at the age of 76. A social media announcement confirmed that Ellis died peacefully on October 30th, following complications from a chronic illness.

Ellis is best remembered for his powerful, soulful vocals on the band’s timeless signature hit, “Everlasting Love,” which soared to the top of the UK charts in 1968 and remains a beloved classic today.

Born in Edgware, North-West London in 1950, Ellis’s musical journey began at the age of 15 when he formed the Soul Survivors. His passion for music was heavily inspired by legendary Black US soul and R&B artists, particularly after witnessing a live performance by James Brown. “He blew our socks off, he was phenomenal. I thought, that’s how a singer has to be, so I started doing gymnastics,” Ellis recalled in a 2021 interview with the Express.

The Soul Survivors eventually evolved into Love Affair in the mid-1960s, signing with Decca Records. Their debut single, “She Smiled Sweetly,” was released simultaneously with the Rolling Stones’ version and unfortunately failed to make an impact.

However, the band struck gold with their next release, “Everlasting Love.” Recorded by Ellis between shifts on a construction site, the track was a cover of an original song by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, previously recorded by US singer Robert Knight. Ellis’s vibrant and passionate rendition truly captured the song’s profound promise of eternal devotion: “Need you by my side, girl, to be my bride / You’ll never be denied everlasting love.”

The single spent two weeks at the number one spot in the UK. While other covers of the song, such as Carl Carlton’s 1974 hit, achieved greater commercial success in the United States, Love Affair’s version has stood the test of time, becoming a massive favorite on streaming platforms and a staple at wedding ceremonies.

Backed by grand, symphonic pop arrangements, Love Affair continued their success with three more UK Top 10 hits over the next two years. Tracks like “Rainbow Valley,” “A Day Without Love,” and “Bringing on Back the Good Times” cemented their status as one of the premier pop acts of the era.

As the decade progressed, Ellis grew disillusioned with the band’s direction, particularly when they attempted to transition to progressive rock. “The band wanted to go progressive rock and that wasn’t for me,” he explained. “I’d always been a soul-boy. The main reason we broke up though was the screaming fans. We couldn’t hear what we were playing.” Following the band’s split, Ellis formed the group Ellis in 1972, with their debut album produced by Roger Daltrey, and later joined Widowmaker, featuring ex-Hawkwind member Huw Lloyd Langton.

Ellis launched his solo career with the album *The Last Angry Man* in 1977, followed by *Basement Days* in 1983. He made a strong return in 2008 with *Best of Days*, which featured a reunion with Daltrey on two tracks.

This album also initiated a long-term creative partnership with music legend Paul Weller. The two collaborated on multiple projects, including a live acoustic version of “Everlasting Love,” the 2018 album *Boom! Bang! Twang!* (which Weller co-wrote and co-produced), and the 2022 track “Just to Simplify.” Ellis’s most recent album, *Baby Faced Assassin*, released in September, featured three additional co-written tracks with Weller.

Among those paying tribute to the singer was Weller, who took to Instagram to write: “God bless ya Stevie safe travels everlasting love for sure.”

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