Rick Davies, Supertramp Co-Founder, ‘Bloody Well Right’ Songwriter Dies at 81

Rick Davies, a founding subordinate and singer/keyboardist for prog stone radical Supertramp, died connected Saturday (Sept. 5) astatine his Long Island, N.Y. location astatine property 81. The passing of the writer and dependable of specified indelible hits arsenic “Goodbye Stranger” and “Bloody Well Right” was confirmed by the radical successful a connection honoring his fractional period of work successful the group.

“The Supertramp Partnership is precise bittersweet to denote the decease of Supertramp laminitis Rick Davies aft a agelong illness,” the set wrote successful a statement that said Davies had been sick with the humor crab aggregate myeloma for much than a decade. “We had the privilege of knowing him, and playing with him for implicit 50 years. We connection our sincere condolences to Sue Davies.”

The connection continued, “As co-writer, on with spouse Roger Hodgson, helium was the dependable and pianist down Supertramp’s astir iconic songs, leaving an indelible people connected stone euphony history. His soulful vocals and unmistakable interaction connected the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands’ sound. Beyond the stage, Rick was known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his woman Sue, with whom helium shared implicit 5 decades. After facing superior wellness challenges, which kept him incapable to proceed touring arsenic Supertramp, helium enjoyed performing with his hometown buds arsenic Ricky and the Rockets.”

Born successful Swindon, England connected July 22, 1944, Davies was archetypal attracted to euphony aft his parents gave him a grounds subordinate and helium became obsessed with the medium Drummin’ Man by legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa. After playing with a bid of bands successful precocious schoolhouse and college, including Rick’s Blues (with popular vocalist Gilbert O’Sullivan) and the Lonely Ones, Davies enactment an advertisement successful Melody Maker mag successful 1969 looking for bandmates to articulation him, with vocalist Roger Hodgson signing connected on with guitarist Richard Palmer and drummer Keith Baker.

Taking a sanction inspired by Welsh writer William Henry Davies’ 1908 publication The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, the radical signed to A&M Records, which released their self-titled debut medium successful 1970. After a fewer lineup changes, the prog stone radical released 1971’s Indelibly Stamped, with Davies handling pb vocals connected astir of the tracks arsenic helium and Hodgson shared songwriting duties.

But it wasn’t until 1974’s Crime of the Century that the set had its archetypal commercialized breakthrough, with the medium hitting No. 38 connected the Billboard 200 illustration and Davies-penned azygous “Bloody Well Right” moving up to No. 35 connected the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. After a mis-fire with the 1975 LP Crisis? What Crisis? featuring leftovers from the erstwhile album, the set earned its archetypal golden grounds successful the U.S. with 1977’s Even successful the Quietest Moments… which deed No. 16 connected the Billboard 200 illustration and spawned the pop-leaning No. 15 Billboard popular singles illustration deed “Give a Little Bit,” with vocals by Hodgson.

Further leaning into their popular proclivities, the set yet broke done with their landmark Grammy-nominated sixth album, Breakfast successful America, which spun disconnected a bid of sing-along vigor hits, including the Billboard Hot 100 No. 6 smash “The Logical Song,” arsenic good arsenic “Take the Long Way Home” (No. 10) and the bouncy Davies-written “Goodbye Stranger” (No. 15). In keeping with erstwhile releases, the songs included pb vocals by some men, with some besides getting songwriting credits connected the tunes.

After a filler unrecorded album, 1980’s Paris, Hodgson departed pursuing 1982’s …Famous Last Words... aft years of battles implicit the group’s originative absorption and songwriting royalties, l...