Rick Davies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rick Davies
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Davies, 1979
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Davies |
| Born | 22 July 1944 Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Genres | Progressive rock, pop rock, art rock, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, singer |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Labels | A&M, Rick Davies Productions |
| Associated acts | Supertramp |
Richard Davies, born on July 22, 1944, is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, and keyboard player for the famous rock band Supertramp. Rick was the only member who stayed with the band from beginning to end.
He wrote many of Supertramp's well-known songs. These include "Rudy", "Bloody Well Right", "Crime of the Century", and "Goodbye Stranger". Rick is known for his cool blues piano solos and jazz-influenced rock songs. His lyrics often have a bit of a cynical, thoughtful feel.
From Supertramp's first album in 1970, Rick shared singing duties with his bandmate Roger Hodgson. When Roger left the band in 1983, Rick became the main singer. Rick's voice is deeper and often sounds a bit raspy. This was a big contrast to Roger's higher voice. But sometimes, Rick would sing in a high voice, like on "Goodbye Stranger".
Contents
Rick Davies: A Musical Journey
Early Life and First Instruments
Richard Davies grew up in Swindon, England. His mom, Betty, was a hairdresser, and his dad, Dick, worked in the navy. From a young age, it was clear that music was Rick's passion. His mom even said, "Music was the only thing he was any good at at school."
When he was eight, Rick got a used record player. It came with some records, including one by a famous drummer named Gene Krupa. Rick said it "hit like a thunderbolt" and he played it thousands of times. This sparked his love for drums.
A family friend made him a drum kit from a biscuit tin. At 12, he joined a local band as a snare drummer. Rick loved the sound of drums marching in parades. He took drum lessons and dreamed of being a professional drummer.
From Drums to Keyboards
Rick later started trying out keyboards. He found that people liked his keyboard playing even more than his drumming. So, he decided to focus on keyboards. He never took formal lessons for keyboards, learning most of what he knows by himself.
By 1959, rock 'n' roll caught his attention. He joined a band called Vince and the Vigilantes. In 1962, while studying art, he formed his own band, Rick's Blues. He played an electric piano in this band. Interestingly, Gilbert O'Sullivan, who later became a famous singer, played drums for Rick's Blues for a while. Gilbert even said Rick taught him a lot about music.
After his father got sick, Rick stopped playing music for a bit. He left college and worked as a welder. But his passion for music soon brought him back.
Forming Supertramp
In 1966, Rick became the organist for a band called The Lonely Ones. He later admitted he wasn't very good at the organ then, but he learned quickly! While touring in Germany, Rick met a rich Dutch man named Stanley August Miesegaes. This man offered to help Rick start a new band.
Rick took the offer and put an ad in a music magazine in 1969. That's how he met Roger Hodgson. Even though they came from different backgrounds, they quickly connected. They started writing almost all their songs together. Their first band name was Daddy, but in 1970, they changed it to Supertramp.
Supertramp signed with a new record label called A&M Records. Their first album, also called Supertramp, came out in 1970. Roger sang most of the lead vocals on this album. But by their second album, Indelibly Stamped, Rick and Roger were sharing the lead singing equally.
Supertramp's Big Success
After a few years, Supertramp found a stable group of musicians. In 1974, they released Crime of the Century. This album brought them great success and praise. It became a top album in the UK.
Rick and Roger started writing most of their songs separately again. However, they agreed to share the credit for all their songs. Hits like "Bloody Well Right" and "Goodbye Stranger" were actually written only by Rick.
By 1977, the band moved to the United States. There, they recorded their best-selling album, Breakfast in America, between 1978 and 1979. This album had more hit songs than their first five albums combined. It reached number one in America and number three in the UK.
Changes and Reunions
Roger Hodgson left Supertramp in 1983. Rick's relationship with Roger had become difficult. The song "My Kind of Lady" was one of the last hits before Roger left. This song really showed off Rick's amazing vocal range, from a deep bass to a high falsetto.
With Rick leading the way, Supertramp returned to a more classic rock sound. They released the album Brother Where You Bound and had another hit with "Cannonball". The band continued to tour and record for five more years before taking a break.
In 1997, Rick decided to bring Supertramp back together. They recorded two more studio albums and toured again. Supertramp reunited once more in 2010 for a special tour. However, a planned tour in 2015 had to be canceled because Rick was dealing with some health issues.
In 2018, Rick shared that he was feeling much better and enjoying music again. He even performed a few songs with some of Supertramp's current members under the name Ricky and the Rockets. While he said it was unlikely Supertramp would perform again, he continues to play music. Ricky and the Rockets performed another show in June 2022.
Rick Davies: Personal Life
Rick Davies married Sue in 1977. Sue has been Supertramp's manager since 1984.
Rick's mother passed away in 2008. He used to travel from his home in New York to visit her every Christmas.
Rick currently owns a company called Rick Davies Productions. This company holds the copyrights for Supertramp's music recordings.
Discography
Supertramp
- 1970 : Supertramp
- 1971 : Indelibly Stamped
- 1974 : Crime of the Century
- 1975 : Crisis? What Crisis?
- 1977 : Even in the Quietest Moments...
- 1979 : Breakfast in America
- 1982 : ...Famous Last Words...
- 1985 : Brother Where You Bound
- 1987 : Free as a Bird
- 1997 : Some Things Never Change
- 2002 : Slow Motion
Collaboration
- 1973 : You And Me from Chick Churchill - With Roger Hodgson, Cozy Powell, Gary Pickford-Hopkins and Martin Barre.
Images for kids
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Davies, 1979
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Rick Davies in 2002.
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Rick Davies in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Rick Davies para niños
