Steve Ellis, the lead singer of the London pop group Love Affair, has died at age 76. An announcement on his official Facebook page said Ellis died on the evening of Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, after complications from a chronic illness, according to Daily Voice and Gold Radio. The announcement said he died peacefully with his loved ones present.
Love Affair reached No. 1 on the UK chart with their version of "Everlasting Love," according to Hello! magazine. Gold Radio reported that Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden wrote the song, and that soul singer Robert Knight recorded it first.
Ellis's official website says he got his first professional job in 1966, at age 15, singing with a group called the Soul Survivors. The site says that as Love Affair's frontman he had five top 20 singles from 1968 to 1970, among them "Everlasting Love" and "Rainbow Valley." He then left the band for a solo career.
Daily Voice reported that his later work included the rock group Widowmaker and a band called Ellis, which he formed with keyboardist Zoot Money. Gold Radio reported that he joined Widowmaker after starting his solo career. USA Today reported that he also briefly revived the band as Steve Ellis's Love Affair.
Tributes followed the announcement. Gold Radio reported that musician Tom Read said he toured with Ellis in 2019, writing that "it was an absolute joy." Hello! reported that BCM Entertainments Ltd, a Kent-based festival and music consultancy, also paid tribute to him on social media.
Sources: Gold Radio · Daily Voice · Hello! · USA Today (via Yahoo) · Steve Ellis Official Site
