Co-founder and lead singer of the British rock band Supertramp, Rick Davies, has passed away at the age of 81, the band confirmed on Monday.
Davies, who penned and performed hits such as “Goodbye Stranger” and “Bloody Well Right,” died on Saturday from blood cancer multiple myeloma, according to a statement shared on Supertramp’s Facebook page and official website.
“As co-writer, along with partner Roger Hodgson, he was the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history,” the band said.
The statement added, “His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands’ sound.”
Davies co-founded Supertramp — briefly called Daddy — with Roger Hodgson in London in 1969.
The group gained acclaim with its 1974 album Crime of the Century and followed up with Even in the Quietest Moments… three years later.
However, it was their sixth studio effort, Breakfast in America, that solidified Supertramp’s international fame, selling over 18 million copies, winning two Grammy Awards, and topping charts in both the United States and Canada.
The album produced classics like “The Logical Song” and “Take the Long Way Home.”
Hodgson left the band after their 1983 tour, leaving Davies to lead Supertramp until 1988 when the band disbanded.
They reformed in 1996 without Hodgson and continued performing until 2012. In 2015, Davies was diagnosed with cancer, halting plans for a European tour.
“Beyond the stage, Rick was known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife Sue, with whom he shared over five decades,” the band said.
The statement stated, “After facing serious health challenges, which kept him unable to continue touring as Supertramp, he enjoyed performing with his hometown buds as Ricky and the Rockets.”
