Supertramp frontman Rick Davies dies at 81 after long illness

Rick Davies, co-founder, singer and songwriter of British rock band Supertramp, has died at the age of 81, the group said on Sunday.

Davies died last week at his home on Long Island "after a long illness," the band announced in a statement.

Best known as the voice and pianist behind hits such as Goodbye Stranger and Bloody Well Right, Davies co-founded Supertramp in 1969 with Roger Hodgson. The group went on to achieve global success with their 1979 album Breakfast in America, which sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy awards, reports The Guardian.

"The Supertramp Partnership is very sad to announce the death of the Supertramp founder Rick Davies after a long illness," the band said. "We had the privilege of knowing him, and playing with him for over 50 years. We offer our sincere condolences to Sue Davies."

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015, Davies was forced to cancel a planned European tour that year but continued to perform under the name Ricky and the Rockets.

Born in Swindon in 1944, Davies began as a drummer before turning to keyboards. His distinctive Wurlitzer sound helped define Supertramp's music, blending his own compositions with Hodgson's, including The Logical Song, Give a Little Bit and Take the Long Way Home.

Hodgson left the band in 1983, leaving Davies as the only original member. Despite disputes over royalties in later years, he remained active in music until his illness advanced, says The Guardian.

On social media, the band hailed Davies' "warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife Sue," calling his music "an indelible mark on rock history" and proof that "great songs never die, they live on."

Davies is survived by his wife, Sue, who managed Supertramp from 1984.