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Eddie Money, 'Two Tickets to Paradise' Singer, Dies at 70

Associated Press

   A publicist for Eddie Money said the rock star has died after he
   recently announced he had stage 4 esophageal cancer. He was 70.

   Cindy Ronzoni provided a statement from the family and said Money died
   Friday morning in Los Angeles.
   The husky-voiced, blue-collar performer was known for such hits as "Two
   Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight." In 1987, he received a
   best rock vocal Grammy nomination for "Take Me Home Tonight," which
   featured a cameo from Ronnie Spector.
   "It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and
   father," the statement said. "It's so hard to imagine our world without
   him, however he will live on forever through his music."

   He announced his cancer diagnosis via a video last month from his AXS
   TV reality series "Real Money." In the video, Money says he discovered
   he had cancer after what he thought was a routine checkup. He said the
   disease had spread to his liver and lymph nodes.

   Money said it hit him "really, really hard."

   He had numerous health problems recently, including heart valve surgery
   earlier this year and pneumonia after the procedure, leading to his
   cancellation of a planned summer tour.

   Early years

   A New York City native born Edward Joseph Mahoney, Money grew up in a
   family of police officers and was training in law enforcement himself
   before he rebelled and decided he'd rather be a singer.

   "I grew up with respect for the idea of preserving law and order, and
   then all of a sudden cops became pigs and it broke my heart," Money
   told Rolling Stone in 1978.

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