Ric Ocasek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ric Ocasek
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Ocasek in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Theodore Otcasek |
| Born | March 23, 1944 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 15, 2019 (aged 75) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1963–2019 |
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Richard Theodore Otcasek (born March 23, 1944 – died September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was best known as the main singer, guitarist, and leader of the rock band The Cars.
Besides his work with The Cars, Ocasek also released seven solo albums. His song "Emotion in Motion" was a popular hit in the United States in 1986. Ocasek also helped other artists make their music as a record producer. He worked with bands like Weezer, No Doubt, and Motion City Soundtrack. In 2018, Ric Ocasek was honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cars.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Ric Ocasek was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 23, 1944. His family had roots in Czech and Polish cultures. When he was 16, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. His father worked with computers for NASA there. Ric finished high school in 1963 and briefly went to college, but he left to follow his dream of making music.
In 1965, Ocasek met Benjamin Orr, who would later become the bassist for The Cars. They met in Cleveland and later reconnected in Columbus, Ohio. They started playing music together in different bands. One of their early groups was called ID Nirvana.
Music Career
Forming The Cars
After playing in various bands, Ocasek and Orr moved to Boston in the early 1970s. They formed a folk rock band called Milkwood and released one album. Later, they formed another group called Richard and the Rabbits, which included Greg Hawkes, who would become The Cars' keyboardist.
Ocasek and Orr also performed as an acoustic duo. Some of the songs they played during this time later became early songs for The Cars. Eventually, they teamed up with guitarist Elliot Easton in a band called Cap'n Swing. After some changes, David Robinson joined as the drummer, and Greg Hawkes returned. In late 1976, the band officially became "The Cars".
Success with The Cars
Ric Ocasek was a founding member of The Cars. The band released many hit songs from 1978 to 1988. Ric played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals on most of their songs. Benjamin Orr sang lead on the other tracks.
Ocasek was the main songwriter for The Cars, writing almost all of their music. In 2010, Ocasek reunited with the other surviving members of The Cars. They recorded a new album called Move Like This, which came out in 2011. The band also reunited in 2018 to perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ric Ocasek as a Producer
While he was with The Cars, Ric Ocasek also became known as a record producer. A producer helps bands record their music and shapes their sound. He worked with many different kinds of bands.
Some of the famous albums he produced include Weezer's Blue Album and Green Album. He also produced music for No Doubt, Nada Surf, Bad Brains, and Guided by Voices. In 2014, he produced another Weezer album called Everything Will Be Alright in the End.
Solo Music Career
Ric Ocasek released his first solo album, Beatitude, in 1982. It had a similar new wave rock sound to The Cars, but was a bit more experimental. His next album, This Side of Paradise, came out in 1986 and included the hit song "Emotion in Motion".
After The Cars broke up in 1988, Ocasek released more solo albums. These included Fireball Zone (1990), Quick Change World (1993), and Troublizing (1997). While his solo albums didn't sell as much as The Cars' music, they were still important to his career. His 2005 album, Nexterday, received good reviews.
Other Projects
In 1993, Ric Ocasek wrote a book of poetry called Negative Theatre. He also enjoyed making drawings, photo collages, and mixed-media art. His artwork was shown in a gallery in Ohio in 2009.
Ocasek also had small acting roles in movies. He appeared as a painter in the film Hairspray (1988) and as a mechanic in Made in Heaven (1987).
He appeared on The Colbert Report several times, often in funny segments. The Cars, with Ocasek, also appeared on the show in 2011 to promote their new album. In 2012, Ocasek released Lyrics and Prose, a book with all his song lyrics, plus poems and photos.
Personal Life
Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, his bandmate from The Cars, were very close friends. They became distant when the band broke up, but they made up before Orr passed away in 2000. Ocasek wrote a song called "Silver" in memory of Orr.
Ocasek was married three times. He met Paulina Porizkova, a supermodel, while filming a music video for The Cars' song "Drive" in 1984. They married in 1989. In 2018, Paulina announced that they had separated a year earlier.
Ric Ocasek had six sons from his three marriages. His oldest son, Christopher, is also a singer.
Death
Ric Ocasek passed away on September 15, 2019, at his home in New York City. He died from natural causes related to heart disease.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Beatitude (1982)
- This Side of Paradise (1986)
- Fireball Zone (1991)
- Quick Change World (1993)
- Negative Theater (1993) (Europe only)
- Troublizing (1997)
- Nexterday (2005)
Spoken Word Albums
- Getchertiktz (1996)
With The Cars
- The Cars (1978)
- Candy-O (1979)
- Panorama (1980)
- Shake It Up (1981)
- Heartbeat City (1984)
- Door to Door (1987)
- Move Like This (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Ric Ocasek para niños
