NEW YORK - Rock star Eddie Money, a raspy voiced singer known for hit songs like “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Take Me Home Tonight,” died Friday at age 70.

Money had been battling stage 4 esophageal cancer, the singer’s publicist said Friday.

Money’s family said in a statement that it was “with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father.”

“I LOVED working with him in so many ways — a down to earth man and super talent,” spokeswoman Indy Ronzoni wrote on Twitter.

Born Edward Joseph Mahoney in Brooklyn, New York, he briefly served as a police officer with the NYPD before moving to California in 1968 to try his hand in the music business.

Money signed with Columbia Records in 1976, and his debut album, "Eddie Money," went double-platinum. It included the now classic hit, "Two Tickets to Paradise."

Over his career that spanned four decades, Money sold nearly 30 million records. He continued touring up until this year, but had to cancel a tour over the summer due to health complications.

Story Date: September 20, 2019