The family of Long Island native Eddie Money said Friday the 70-year-old musician died following his battle with esophageal cancer. 

With his raspy voice and his catchy lyrics, Eddie Money rose to fame with hits like "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight" in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

 

Eddie Money, born Edward Joseph Mahoney, grew up in a family of police officers in Levittown, but instead became a rock star. In a 2009 interview with News 12, Money recalled his roots.

“The love I have for my parents, the love that I have for Long Island people…the first rock n’ roll band I had, we came right up out of here, out of Levittown,” he said. 

Fingers, from WBAB Radio, said he quickly became friends with Money when they first met in the ‘90s. He says when he heard about his passing, he had to play Eddie Money’s first album.

“If you really want to remember Eddie, listen to his music,” he said.

 

Money was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Co-founder Jim Faith said Eddie Money was the definitive Long Island musician. 

Faith said, “He was a great guy, a great family man, but really, truly talented.”

Eddie Money's family released a statement saying that it is hard to imagine their world without him, however he will live on forever through his music.