• Rick Davies, co-founder and lead singer of Supertramp, has died at age 81.
• He battled multiple myeloma for over a decade before his death on September 6.
• Davies was known for iconic hits like "Goodbye Stranger" and "The Logical Song."
• Supertramp's 1979 album "Breakfast in America" was a cultural landmark, selling over 18 million copies.
• The band's statement emphasized that his music and legacy will continue to inspire.

Rick Davies, co-founder and lead singer of the British rock band Supertramp, died at the age of 81 on September 6, after more than a decade-long battle with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The group confirmed the news in a statement shared on social media, highlighting his role as "the voice and pianist behind Supertramp's most iconic songs" such as "Goodbye Stranger" and "The Logical Song," which left an indelible mark on rock music history, according to Le Monde, BBC, and Newsweek.

Born in Swindon, England in 1944, Davies nurtured a passion for music from an early age, inspired by classical jazz and blues artists. He founded Supertramp in 1969 after placing an advertisement in the Melody Maker magazine for bandmates, eventually collaborating with Roger Hodgson. The band's work culminated in the 1979 album "Breakfast in America," which became a massive commercial success, selling over 18 million copies and earning two Grammy Awards, as noted by Reuters, CBS News, and SFGate.

Throughout his career, Davies contributed significantly to Supertramp's signature sound with his unique touch on the Wurlitzer. After Hodgson departed the band in 1983, Davies continued to lead Supertramp through its later stages, although declining health and cancer eventually halted performances. He continued to play music locally with a group called Ricky and the Rockets in his later years, according to NPR and Newsweek.

Supertramp's tribute to Davies emphasized not only his musical contributions but also his warmth and resilience, particularly his devotion to his wife, Sue. The band reiterated, "Rick's music and legacy continue to inspire many and bear testament to the fact that great songs never die," reflecting the sentiments shared across multiple sources, including Reuters, BBC, and CBS News.