Rick Davies really shaped the sound of an era — his voice, piano, and songwriting made Supertramp unforgettable.
Songs like “Logical Song,” “Goodbye Stranger,” and “Take the Long Way Home” still hit hard decades later because of him.
But now the legendary singer has peacefully gone to his final rest, at 81 years old.
”The only thing he was any good at…”
Rick Davies, who co-founded the Grammy-nominated rock group Supertramp, passed away at his home in Long Island on September 5 after battling cancer for more than a decade.
In 2015, Davies was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that develops in the bone marrow and targets white blood cells.
Born in Swindon, England, music was always his true calling. As his mother once put it: “Music was the only thing he was any good at at school.” That passion would later lead him to join forces with friend Roger Hodgson in 1969, forming what would become one of the most influential rock bands of the era — Supertramp.
Though they came from very different worlds — Davies from a working-class background and Hodgson from private schooling — the two clicked instantly when Hodgson auditioned. Together, they built the foundation of the band’s sound, trading lead vocals and crafting songs that would resonate with millions.
Their rise was swift. By the early ’70s, Supertramp had their first hits, and in 1979 they took over the world with Breakfast in America. The album shot to number one on the Billboard chart and produced classics like “The Logical Song,” “Goodbye Stranger,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and the title track. It went on to earn Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.
But as time went on, Davies and Hodgson grew apart. Hodgson left the band in 1983, and as the group’s biography put it: “Hodgson and Davies were drifting further apart — not in hostility, but in philosophy. Hodgson built a home in the Northern California mountains, where he raised his family and pursued spiritual interests. Davies stayed in Los Angeles, more rooted in urban grit.”
A rare interview
Davies carried on, leading Supertramp through the mid-1980s and later reviving the band in the ’90s with new members. Still, his health challenges would eventually force him off the road.
Plans for a 2015 tour were canceled after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the form of blood cancer he battled for more than a decade.
In August 2018, Rick Davies gave a rare interview where he shared that he had largely overcome his health struggles and was back to enjoying music again —something he hadn’t been able to do in 2016 while undergoing treatment.
Davies never lost his love of music. “Beyond the stage, Rick was known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife Sue, with whom he shared over five decades,” the band said in a heartfelt statement. “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.”
Among the many songs where his unmistakable voice took center stage were “Bloody Well Right,” “From Now On,” and “Goodbye Stranger.”
Supertramp’s official social media account confirmed his passing on Sunday, September 7, sharing: “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 band’s sound.”
For fans across generations, his music remains a gift. Thanks, Rick, for all the great songs and unforgettable memories.