Rick Davies, a founding member of the British rock group Supertramp, has died.
The 81-year-old, who had been battling a number of myeloma – a sort of blood most cancers – for the final decade, died on Saturday, an announcement from the band mentioned.
The band’s lead singer wrote lots of their hits, together with Breakfast In America and The Logical Tune, alongside Roger Hodgson.
Picture:
Supertramp’s Richard Davies, Roger Hodgson, Richard Palmer, Robert Millar and David Winthrop. Pic: PA
The band’s assertion, posted with a photograph of Davies strolling his canine by the ocean and soundtrack of Goodbye Stranger, paid tribute to each his musical legacy and his heat character.
The assertion learn: “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.
“His soulful vocals and unmistakable contact on the Wurlitzer grew to become the heartbeat of the band’s sound.”
“Past the stage, Rick was recognized for his heat, resilience, and devotion to his spouse Sue, with whom he shared over 5 a long time,” the band said.
“After dealing with critical well being challenges, which stored him unable to proceed touring as Supertramp, he loved performing along with his hometown buds as Ricky and the Rockets.
“Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bear testament to the fact that great songs never die, they live on.”
Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1944, Davies’s love of music started in his childhood, the group mentioned, listening to Gene Krupa’s Drummin’ Man, which sparked a lifelong ardour for jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
Davies and Hodgson shaped the band that will turn out to be Supertramp in 1969.
Picture:
(L-R) Rick Davies and John Helliwell in 2002. Pic Reuters
The road-up modified quite a few instances over time, with the band greatest remembered for the interval from 1973 to 1983, when Davies and Hodgson carried out with Dougie Thomson on bass, Bob Siebenberg on drums and John Helliwell on saxophone.
Crime of the Century, their breakthrough album, got here out in 1974, adopted by their greatest hit in 1979 with Breakfast In America, and hit singles The Logical Tune, Breakfast in America, Goodbye Stranger and Take the Lengthy Manner Residence.
Amid inventive disputes, Hodgson left the band to go solo in 1983. Davies ultimately grew to become the one fixed member all through its historical past.
Whereas a reunion tour was introduced in 2015, it was cancelled when Davies was identified with most cancers.
He settled a royalties lawsuit in 2023 after a long-running dispute with ex-bandmates. Simply final month, a US appeals court docket dominated that Hodgson should share royalties for 3 of Supertramp’s songs along with his ex-bandmates.
Davies leaves behind his spouse Sue, who had managed the band for the reason that mid-80s.
