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British singer, Rick Davies dead at 81
Rick Davies, the singer, keyboardist, and co-founder of Supertramp, has died at his home in Long Island at the age of 81 after a long battle with multiple myeloma.
“The Supertramp Partnership is very sad to announce the death of Supertramp founder Rick Davies after a long illness,” the band said in a statement. “As co-writer, along with 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 band’s sound.”
Davies co-wrote and performed many of the group’s most celebrated tracks, including Goodbye Stranger, Breakfast in America, and Bloody Well Right. Beyond the stage, he was known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife, Sue, with whom he shared more than 50 years.
British singer, Rick Davies dead at 81
Supertramp, named after William Henry Davies’ 1908 book The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, was formed in 1969. After modest beginnings, the band broke through with the 1974 album Crime of the Century, featuring hits like Bloody Well Right and Dreamer. Their 1979 album Breakfast in America went quadruple platinum, won two Grammy Awards, and earned an Album of the Year nomination.
Davies’ songwriting defined much of Supertramp’s legacy, with tracks such as Cannonball, My Kind of Lady, and Crime of the Century. Even after Hodgson’s departure in 1983, Davies carried the band forward, leading later albums and tours.
Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1944, Davies first gravitated toward drums before moving to piano, where he found his true voice as a musician. Before forming Supertramp, he played in bands including Rick’s Blues with Gilbert O’Sullivan and the Lonely Ones with Noel Redding.
Despite health struggles, Davies continued performing whenever possible. In 2015, Supertramp’s planned tour was canceled due to his illness, and in later years he played occasional shows with Ricky and the Rockets.
“Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bear testament to the fact that great songs never die,” the band said.
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