Eddie Money

Singer-songwriter Eddie Money began playing in rock bands while in high school, later explaining that he did it to get dates with cheerleaders. ∙ At age 18, he became a third-generation New York City cop but soon quit because, he explained, “I couldn’t see myself in a police uniform for 20 years of my life, with short hair.” ∙ He gave himself the stage name Eddie Money—a joking reference to the fact that he was always broke and sold bell-bottoms to pay the rent. ∙ His self-titled 1977 debut album went double-Platinum, thanks to the classic rock hits “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” ∙ Money’s videos for “Think I’m in Love” and “Shakin’” helped turn MTV into a cultural phenomenon shortly after its launch. ∙ In 1986, he teamed up with Ronnie Spector for “Take Me Home Tonight,” which became the biggest hit of his career.