I didn’t know that about Eric Carmen. Learn something new every day. Thanks for the info!
RE: The only other Rock n Roller that I know of that’s a classically trained pianist is Eric Carmen.
Eric Carmen’s hit song ALL BY MYSELF, incorporated part of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18.
Rachmaninoff’s music was in the public domain in the United States at that time and so Carmen thought no copyright existed on it, but it was still protected outside the U.S. Subsequent to the release of the album, he was contacted by the Rachmaninoff estate and informed that it was protected.
An agreement was reached in which the estate would receive 12 percent of the royalties from “All by Myself” as well as from “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again”, which was based on the third movement from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
Another FunFact about Eric Carmen:
Re: “All By Myself”
The verse is based on second movement of Sergeo Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Opus 18.
Re: “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again”
Based on third movement of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No.2.
12% of royalties from both songs would go to Rachmaninoff’s estate, was the business agreement allowing him to incorporate this music.
He used Rachmaninoff in the long version of All By Myself.
That makes Neil Sedaka and Eric Carmen "Rare birds".