Rick Davies, co-founder and lead singer/songwriter of Supertramp, passed away last week after battling Multiple Myeloma for over 10 years, the band confirmed.

“The Supertramp Partnership is very sad to announce the death of the Supertramp founder, Rick Davies after a long illness,” a statement from the band reads. “Rick passed away at his home on Long Island on September 5th. We had the privilege of knowing him, and playing with him for over fifty years. We offer our sincere condolences to Sue Davies.”

Davies was the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history, says a tribute by Supertramp, adding, “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 bear testament to the fact that great songs never die; they live on,” the group shares.

Davies, who was born in 1944, fell in love with music after listening to Gene Krupa’s “Drummin’ Man” during his childhood, and jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll became his lifelong passion.

Davies wrote and sang hits such as “Goodbye Stranger” and “Bloody Well Right” and had a deeper and less-distinctive voice than his erstwhile partner, Roger Hodgson, who wrote and sang the band’s biggest hit, “The Logical Song.”

Source: RTT Music News