Rick Davies, the co-founder, vocalist and songwriter for British rock band Supertramp, took his last breath at 81.
On September 7, the band reportedly announced Rick’s death in a statement, revealing he passed away at his Island home on September 5 after decade-long battle with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Paying tribute to Rick, the band said in the statement, “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.”
It added, “Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bears testament to the fact that great songs never die, they live on.”
For the unversed, Rick was born in Swindon, England in 1944. During his childhood, he discovered his passion for music as a drummer and keyboardist.
The band, which was formed by songwriter and guitarist Roger Hodgson, was renamed Supertramp in 1970.
Interestingly, the band delivered the most successful album Breakfast in America in 1979, which topped at number one on the Billboard album chart with hits including The Logical Song, Goodbye Stranger and Take the Long Way Home.
Meanwhile, the band also earned Grammy nominations during their time together, including one in the Album of the Year category for Breakfast in America in 1980.
Back in 2015, the singer was diagnosed with cancer and therefore he had to cancel the European tour. Unfortunately, the band never performed again.
However, Rick continued to perform even after his cancer diagnosis, usually under the name Ricky and the Rockets.
