Rick Davies, who co-fronted the legendary British rock band Supertramp, died at age 81 on Saturday (September 6th) after a long battle with the cancer multiple myeloma.
A statement on the band’s official Facebook page reads as follows:
“Rick Davies, founder, lead singer and songwriter of Supertramp, passed away on Saturday, September 6th at the age of 81 after battling Multiple Myeloma for over 10 years. Born in Swindon, England in 1944, Rick’s love of music began in his childhood listening to Gene Krupa’s ‘Drummin’ Man’ which grew into a lifelong passion for jazz, blues and rock’n’roll. 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 touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands’ sound. Beyond the stage, Rick was known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife Sue, with whom he shared over five decades. 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. Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bears testament to the fact that great songs never die, they live on.”
Davies co-founded and co-fronted Supertramp with Roger Hodgson. He sang lead and backing vocals, played keyboard, and wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s biggest songs, including “Bloody Well Right,” “Goodbye Stranger,” and others. The band is also known for the Hodgson-penned hits “Give a Little Bit,” “The Logical Song,” and more.
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The group was first formed in 1969 under the name Daddy, with the original lineup featuring Davies, Hodgson (vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass), Richard Palmer (guitar, vocals), and Keith Baker (drums). The band changed its name to Supertramp in 1970 as to not confuse itself with another outfit called Daddy Long Legs.
Davies and Hodgson were the main songwriting team for Supertramp’s first seven albums, ranging from 1970’s self-titled debut through 1982’s …Famous Last Words…, most of which have achieved at least gold certification. Among those releases was their best-selling album, 1979’s Breakfast in America, which has been certified four-times platinum.
Hodgson left the band in 1983, but Davies continued on with Supertramp, releasing two more albums in the ’80s before the group disbanded in 1988. He re-formed Supertramp from 1996 through 2002 and again from 2010 through 2011, and had plans to reunite again in 2015.
However, before the band was able to embark on a planned 2015 tour, Davies was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and the tour was canceled. He did go on to perform a couple of shows under the name Ricky and the Rockets, including one gig in 2022 in Long Island, New York.
Our condolences go out to Rick Davies’ family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time. Revisit a couple of his biggest hits with Supertramp below.
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