Supertramp Founder Rick Davies Dies at 81

Lead Rick Davies, the singer, keyboardist and co-founder of the British rock band Supertramp, died at his Long Island home on September 6 after a long battle with cancer, the group announced today.

Nut Graf Davies’s passing marks the end of a 56-year musical career that produced global hits such as “The Logical Song” and “Goodbye Stranger.” His songwriting partnership with Roger Hodgson defined Supertramp’s signature sound and left an indelible mark on classic rock history.

Details of Davies’s Career and Legacy

  • Formation of Supertramp (1969-1970): Davies placed an ad in Melody Maker seeking musicians, leading to his collaboration with Roger Hodgson. The duo renamed their new project Supertramp in January 1970 and signed with A&M Records.
  • Breakthrough and Signature Hits (1974-1979): Their third album, Crime of the Century (1974), featured Davies-penned “Bloody Well Right,” while Breakfast in America (1979) delivered chart-toppers including “The Logical Song” (Hodgson) and Davies’s “Goodbye Stranger,” earning Grammy nominations and cementing the band’s international fame.
  • Post-Hodgson Era (1983-2002): After Hodgson’s departure in 1983, Davies assumed full lead vocal duties. He guided Supertramp through albums like Brother Where You Bound (1985) and Free as a Bird (1987), later reviving the band with new lineups for Some Things Never Change (1997) and Slow Motion (2002).
  • Later Years and Health Struggles: diagnosed over ten years ago with multiple myeloma, Davies stepped back from touring but continued to perform locally as Ricky and the Rockets, demonstrating his enduring passion for music.

Subheadings for Quick Scan

  • Battle with Cancer: Multiple myeloma diagnosis over a decade ago
  • Iconic Collaborations: Davies-Hodgson songwriting shaped Supertramp’s classics
  • Enduring Influence: Hits continue to inspire new generations of rock fans

Rick Davies’s soulful vocals and mastery of the Wurlitzer piano defined Supertramp’s sound and influenced countless artists, ensuring his musical legacy will live on.