60s Singer Who Scored a No. 1 Hit at Just 17 Years Old Dead at 76

Steve Ellis, lead singer of Love Affair, has died aged 76 after complications from a chronic illness. His death matters to fans of the band and British pop, as Ellis’s voice helped make “Everlasting Love” a lasting hit.

Ellis was 17 when Love Affair scored their first number one, and the group also released songs including “Rainbow Valley” and “A Day Without Love”. He left the band in 1969, later worked with other groups and released a solo album. Ellis stopped touring in 2025 because of lung problems; musician David Courtney remembered him as both a friend and mentor.