Rick Davies, the singer, keyboardist, and co‑founder of Supertramp, passed away at the age of 81 on September 5, 2025, at his home on Long Island after a long battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. The band announced his death on September 8, 2025, paying tribute to a man whose distinctive voice and piano work helped shape the sound of classic rock for decades.
Formed in 1970, Supertramp rose to global fame thanks in large part to Davies’s songwriting, vocals, and signature Wurlitzer-piano sound. The band produced enduring hits such as “Breakfast in America,” “The Logical Song,” “Goodbye Stranger,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and “Bloody Well Right,” songs that not only defined their era but continue to resonate with fans worldwide. Even after co-founder Roger Hodgson departed in 1983, Davies carried Supertramp forward, ensuring that the band’s unique musical identity remained intact. His soulful voice and intricate piano arrangements remained the backbone of the band’s sound, guiding Supertramp through evolving lineups and musical landscapes.
In a heartfelt tribute, Supertramp honored Davies as “the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs,” emphasizing that his contributions left an “indelible mark on rock‑music history.” Beyond his musical talent, Davies was recognized for his warmth, resilience, and steadfast devotion to his wife, Sue Davies, with whom he shared over five decades. Diagnosed around 2015, Davies had scaled back touring, prompting the cancellation of a European reunion that year, but his influence on music remained undiminished.
Supertramp’s 1979 landmark album Breakfast in America, which combined melodic rock with thoughtful songwriting, stands as a cultural milestone and sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. Davies’s vocals and piano work were central to its timeless appeal, cementing his legacy as a defining voice of his generation. Even as the band performed less in later years, his signature style continued to resonate in every chord, lyric, and melody, preserving Supertramp’s distinctive sound for new listeners and longtime fans alike.
Rick Davies’s passing at 81 marks the end of an era, but his music endures. For fans old and new, his songs remain a testament to creativity, emotion, and the power of classic rock — a reminder that while artists may leave the stage, their art lives on.
