Rick Davies Brill/ullstein bild/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Rick Davies, co-founder and vocalist of English rock group Supertramp and one of the group's primary songwriters behind classics like "Goodbye Stranger" and "Give a Little Bit," has died, the band confirmed in a tribute to the singer posted this weekend. He was 81. Davies died on Saturday after a decade-long battle with Multiple Myeloma, the band said, crediting him as creative force in the group. "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 band said. "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." Related Stories Music Mark Volman, Co-Founder of Rock Band The Turtles, Dies at 78 Movies Harold Matzner, Longtime Palm Springs International Film Festival Chairman, Dies at 88 Davies was born in Swindon, England in 1944, taking to music early in childhood, starting on the drums with inspiration from Gene Krupa's "Drummin' Man." Lead by Hodgson and Davies' writing partnership, Supertramp broke through in the early '70s with the band's third album Crime of the Century, which featured Davies-penned tracks including "Bloody Well Right" and "School." The album went gold, their first record to do so. His vocals and instrumentation are prominently found on classics like "Give a Little Bit" and the Logical Song." Davies was also the sole writer and lead vocalist on the band's hit "Goodbye Stranger" off their sixth album Breakfast in America, which was by far their biggest album, going quadruple-platinum by 1984. In the band's tribute, they pulled some of Davies' lyrics, with a screen grab that read "goodbye stranger, it's been nice, hope you find your paradise." Rick's music and legacy continue to inspire many and bears testament to the fact that great songs never die, Supertramp said, "they live on." THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up VMAs 2025 MTV VMAs 2025: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande Take Top Prizes; Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah Carey Shine on Stage VMAs 2025 2025 MTV VMAs: Most Memorable Moments of the Night VMAs 2025 Ariana Grande Wins Video of the Year at 2025 MTV VMAs: "I Promise There Are 'Brighter Days Ahead'" VMAs 2025 Lady Gaga Brings "The Dead Dance" to MTV VMAs From Madison Square Garden Concert VMAs 2025 'KPop Demon Hunters' Singers EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna Present at 2025 VMAs VMAs 2025 Mariah Carey Receives First VMA With Video Vanguard Award: "What in the Sam Hill Took You So Long?!" VMAs 2025 MTV VMAs 2025: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande Take Top Prizes; Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah Carey Shine on Stage VMAs 2025 2025 MTV VMAs: Most Memorable Moments of the Night VMAs 2025 Ariana Grande Wins Video of the Year at 2025 MTV VMAs: "I Promise There Are 'Brighter Days Ahead'" VMAs 2025 Lady Gaga Brings "The Dead Dance" to MTV VMAs From Madison Square Garden Concert VMAs 2025 'KPop Demon Hunters' Singers EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna Present at 2025 VMAs VMAs 2025 Mariah Carey Receives First VMA With Video Vanguard Award: "What in the Sam Hill Took You So Long?!"