Steve Ellis, the lead singer of Love Affair, passed away on October 30 at age 76, according to an announcement on social media citing complications from a chronic illness. Ellis achieved prominence during the 1960s as the voice behind “Everlasting Love,” which reached number one on the UK charts in 1968 and became one of the decade’s most recognizable recordings.
Born in Edgware, northwest London, in 1950, Ellis initially formed a group called Soul Survivors at age 15, influenced by American soul and R&B performers. The ensemble eventually became Love Affair in the mid-1960s and secured a record deal with Decca. While their debut single proved unsuccessful, “Everlasting Love”—a cover of a song originally recorded by Robert Knight—became a breakthrough success. Ellis recorded the track while working between construction shifts, and his vocal interpretation helped establish it as a fixture on streaming platforms and at wedding ceremonies. The band subsequently achieved three additional UK Top 10 entries over two years, including “Rainbow Valley” and “A Day Without Love.”
Ellis departed Love Affair after the group’s commercial peak waned, later explaining disagreements over musical direction and difficulties performing amid fan reactions. He subsequently formed multiple bands and pursued a solo career, releasing several albums across the 1970s and 1980s. Beginning in 2008, Ellis collaborated extensively with musician Paul Weller, appearing together on multiple projects including albums released in 2018 and 2022, with his most recent release arriving in September.
Weller shared a tribute on social media following Ellis’s death, acknowledging the musician’s legacy and contributions to music.
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