Supertramp’s Rick Davies, who sang ‘Goodbye Stranger,’ dies at 81

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On Saturday, it was reported that Rick Davies, a founding member and one of the lead vocalists of the iconic British rock band Supertramp alongside his partner Roger Hodgson, passed away at the age of 81 in East Hampton, New York.

It was announced on Supertramp’s website that Davies, a key figure in the band known for his soulful voice and skilled piano playing, had passed away after a long battle with multiple myeloma. The statement emphasized that he was instrumental in creating Supertramp’s most iconic songs, with his unique vocals on the Wurlitzer providing the distinctive rhythm for the band’s sound.

Davies’ impressive keyboard skills were particularly highlighted in Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger,” a Top 20 pop song about a reckless wanderer that contributed significantly to the band’s album “Breakfast in America” reaching quadruple-platinum status in the U.S., and earning a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year in 1979. Notably, this song was also used by director Paul Thomas Anderson to score a dramatic scene featuring William H. Macy in the movie “Magnolia” in 1999.

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Back in 1944, I found life in the vibrant town of Swindon, England. My heart was captivated by music upon my first listen to Gene Krupa’s “Drummin’ Man.” Following this enchanting encounter, I embarked on a musical journey that led me to college where I performed alongside Gilbert O’Sullivan in a brief-lived band. In the summer of 1969, I took a leap of faith and placed an ad in England’s Melody Maker, sparking the formation of Supertramp – originally known as Daddy – when Roger Hodgson answered that very advertisement.

In 1970, Supertramp debuted with their self-titled album, but it wasn’t very popular. The following year, they released another album, yet it also didn’t receive much attention. Critics like Rolling Stone deemed their early progressive rock work as having weak rhythms and simplistic lyrics. However, Supertramp eventually found success with the funky tune “Bloody Well Right,” penned by Davies for the 1974 album “Crime of the Century.” This track showcased his electric piano prominently.

In my enthusiasm, let me share some of the incredible songs Supertramp released after my initial awe – tracks like “Give a Little Bit” and “The Logical Song”, each boasting over half a billion streams on Spotify. Not to be outdone, “Breakfast in America,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and “It’s Raining Again” also became fan favorites. Despite our meteoric rise, Rick Davies and I continued to create music together until 1982’s “Famous Last Words” album, after which I felt that the band had reached a plateau, and my personal growth was being hindered. I confessed this to The Times years later, stating that Supertramp had become stagnant, and I, unfortunately, could no longer evolve within it.

After Hodgson left, Davies continued under the Supertramp name, performing and touring occasionally until the early 2010s. When health issues made touring impossible, he performed locally on Long Island with a band called Ricky and the Rockets. Davies’ surviving relatives include his wife, Sue Davies, who not only was his spouse but also managed his career.

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2025-09-08 22:31