Beloved ‘70s rock singer dead at 81; was ‘the heartbeat of the band’s sound’

A singer, songwriter and co-founder of a beloved 1970s rock band is dead at 81.

Rick Davies, a frontman for the British group Supertramp, died Friday at his home on Long Island. The cause of death was cancer after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma, the band said in a statement.

“As co-writer, along with partner Roger Hodgson, he was the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history. His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the band’s sound,” Supertramp said in a statement. “Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bears testament to the fact that great songs never die, they live on.”

Davies was known for writing and singing Supertramp hits like “Goodbye Stranger” and “Blood