Grammy-winner Eydie Gorme dies at age 84

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Eydie Gorme, singer of the Grammy-nominated "Blame it on the Bossa Nova," died after a brief illness in Las Vegas, her husband said. She was 84.

The cause of Gorme's death Saturday wasn't reported.

The singer enjoyed decades of success as one half of Steve and Eydie, a singing duo with husband Steve Lawrence, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

The two met in 1953 when they joined the cast of Steve Allen's New York television show, which eventually became "The Tonight Show," the Times said.

Lawrence and Gorme married in 1957 and eventually began singing together at nightclub venues across New York City. They became popular for singing the classics instead of rock-and-roll hits, CNN said.

"I mean, she could sing with me, with Andy Williams, Placido Domingo," Lawrence told Larry King during a 2003 interview, commenting on her three-octave range. "She could sing with just about anybody."

Lawrence and Gorme won a Grammy in 1960 for best performance by a vocal group, the Times said.

Gorme is survived by Lawrence, son David and a granddaughter. She is predeceased by son Michael, who died at age 23 of ventricular fibrillation, CNN said.