Rick Davies, the co-founder, lead singer, and pianist of the iconic British rock band Supertramp, has died at the age of 81.
The band confirmed his passing in a statement on their official website. The statement revealed that he died on Saturday, September 6, following a decade-long battle with multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that originates in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell within the bone marrow.
The disease leads to the uncontrolled multiplication of the cells, which can cause damage to bones, the immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell production.
The band’s statement paid tribute to Davies, remembering him as a “warm and resilient” individual and highlighting his role as “the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs”.
It further noted that he “left an indelible mark on the history of rock music”.
“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,” the statement reads in part.
“…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.”
Born in Swindon, England, in 1944, Davies developed an early passion for music, inspired by Gene Krupa’s ‘Drummin’ Man’.
The early interest blossomed into a deep love for jazz, blues, and rock ’n’ roll. He began his musical journey singing in several bands, including one named The Joint. Though the group did not achieve mainstream success, it caught the attention of Dutch benefactor Stanley August Miesegaes, who offered to financially support Davies if he formed a new band.
In 1969, Davies placed an advertisement in Melody Maker magazine seeking musicians, which led to the formation of Supertramp. Backed by Miesegaes’s patronage and writing alongside Roger Hodgson, Davies crafted timeless classics such as ‘Goodbye Stranger,’ ‘Take the Long Way Home,’ ‘The Logical Song,’ and ‘Give a Little Bit’.
band reached its commercial peak with the 1979 album ‘Breakfast in America,’ which topped charts in the United States and Canada, earned two Grammy Awards, and sold over 18 million copies worldwide.
After Hodgson’s departure in 1983 to pursue a solo career, Supertramp disbanded in 1988, though Davies revived the group in 1996. They performed together for the last time in Madrid in 2012. A planned tour in 2015 was ultimately cancelled due to Davies’s declining health as he underwent treatment for multiple myeloma.
Davies is survived by his wife, Sue, who also served as Supertramp’s manager throughout much of the band’s career.
