Richard “Rick” Davies was born on July 22, 1944, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, the son of Betty and Dick Davies. He grew up in a working-class family and showed an early interest in music, first playing drums before switching to piano, inspired by jazz and blues pianists such as Memphis Slim. He studied art at Swindon College but left before finishing when his father became ill, taking a job as a welder while continuing to play in local bands such as Vince and the Vigilantes and later Rick’s Blues.
Though not formally trained in higher education or the military, Davies developed his musical skills independently, particularly on the Wurlitzer electric piano, which later became central to his sound. In 1969 Davies placed an ad in Melody Maker seeking musicians, leading to the formation of the progressive rock band Supertramp with Roger Hodgson.
Supertramp_LPs
- 1970: Supertramp
- 1971: Indelibly Stamped
- 1974: Crime of the Century
- 1975: Crisis? What Crisis?
- 1977: Even in the Quietest Moments…
- 1979: Breakfast in America
- 1980: Paris
- 1982: …Famous Last Words…
- 1985: Brother Where You Bound
- 1987: Free as a Bird
- 1988: Live ’88
- 1997: Some Things Never Change
- 1999: It Was The Best Of Times
- 2002: Slow Motion
On the first two albums, Davies wrote, or co-wrote, 17 of the 20 tunes. He also had the lead vocal on 16 of the songs. He would co-write the entire Crime of the Century LP with Roger Hodgson.
After two initial albums with limited success, Supertramp broke through with Crime of the Century (1974), which established them as a major act. Davies’ soulful voice, blues-influenced keyboard style, and songwriting partnership with Hodgson produced enduring hits. “Bloody Well Right” is my favorite Supertramp song.
The band reached its peak with Breakfast in America (1979), which sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and included hits such as “The Logical Song,” “Goodbye Stranger,” and “Take the Long Way Home.” Supertramp won two Grammy Awards for Breakfast in America in 1980 (Best Recording Package and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical).
Davies was the band’s consistent anchor, carrying on the Supertramp name after Hodgson’s departure in 1983 and guiding later albums such as Brother Where You Bound (1985) and Free as a Bird (1987). Davies maintained a relatively private personal life. He married Sue Davies, who also served as his manager,
and the couple resided for many years in East Hampton, Long Island, New York. Unlike many rock contemporaries, Davies avoided the spotlight outside of his music, rarely courting media attention and preferring a quiet home life.
Public accounts of his family note Sue as his closest companion and primary survivor; no widely reported evidence confirms children from the marriage. In 2015, Davies was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, which forced him to cancel
Supertramp’s planned European tour. Although he underwent treatment, his health continued to decline in later years. Rick Davies died on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at his home in East Hampton, Long Island, at the age of 81. His death was confirmed in statements from Supertramp and his family. He is survived by his wife, Sue Davies.
Chick Churchill’s 1973 solo album You & Me was very much a collaborative effort, built around his keyboards, songwriting, and production but supported by a stellar cast of British rock musicians of the era. Bass duties were split between Leo Lyons of Ten Years After, who played on tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9, and Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, who handled bass on tracks 3, 4, 6, and 7 while also contributing guitar to track 3. Drums were shared between Cozy Powell, who played on tracks 1, 5, 8, and 9, Ten Years After’s Ric Lee on track 2, and Rick Davies of Supertramp on tracks 3, 4, 6, and 7, while guitars were divided between Martin Barre of Jethro Tull on tracks 1, 2, 5, and 9, Bernie Marsden (later of Whitesnake) on tracks 4, 6, and 7, and Hodgson again on track 3. Lead vocals were primarily handled by Gary Pickford-Hopkins, known for his work with Wild Turkey and Rick Wakeman, who sang tracks 1 through 6 as well as 8 and 9, with Churchill himself stepping forward on tracks 7 and 10. The engineering was overseen by Gregg Jackman, with cover design by Michael Partridge. The result was an eclectic album that blended blues-rock roots with progressive flourishes, reflecting not only Churchill’s own vision but also the rich talents of his peers from Ten Years After, Supertramp, Jethro Tull, and beyond.
Tributes poured in from across the music world, with many praising his unique voice, mastery of the electric piano, and the enduring cultural legacy of Supertramp’s music.
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “Rick Davies” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Davies
- Sky News “Rick Davies: Supertramp singer and co-founder dies” https://news.sky.com/story/rick-davies-supertramp-singer-and-co-founder-dies-13427053
- The Guardian “Rick Davies, Supertramp frontman and co-founder, dies aged 81” https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/08/ick-davies-supertramp-frontman-co-founder-dies-aged-81
- BBC “Supertramp singer and co-writer Rick Davies dies at 81” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp98zg2k2xko
- 45 Cat https://www.45cat.com/
- Discogs “Rick Davies & Roger Hodgson” https://www.discogs.com/artist/1023608-Rick-Davies-Roger-Hodgson
