London
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Rick Davies, the lead singer and co-founder of British rock band Supertramp, has died at age 81, the band introduced Monday.
Davies, who wrote and sang songs together with “Goodbye Stranger” and “Bloody Well Right,” died on Saturday of blood most cancers a number of myeloma, the band stated in an announcement posted on its Facebook page and 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 assertion stated.
“His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands’ sound,” it added.
Davies shaped Supertramp — briefly often known as Daddy — together with Roger Hodgson in London in 1969.
The band’s 1974 album “Crime of the Century,” and “Even in the Quietest Moments…,” launched three years later, cemented its status.
But it was the sixth studio album, “Breakfast in America,” that put Supertramp firmly on the map, promoting greater than 18 million copies, successful two Grammys and topping charts within the United States and Canada. Hits on the album included “The Logical Song” and “Take the Long Way Home.”
Hodgson ultimately left the band after their 1983 tour, leaving Davies at the helm of the group till 1988, after they disbanded.
Supertramp reformed in 1996, with out Hodgson, and the band carried out till 2012. In 2015, Davies obtained his most cancers analysis, placing an finish to plans of 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 continued within the assertion.
“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,” the assertion concluded.