Supertramp singer and co-writer Rick Davies dies at 81

Supertramp founder Rick Davies, who wrote and sang some of the rock band's hits, has died at the age of 81.

The English vocalist and keyboardist died on Saturday, a decade after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, the band said.

"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," a statement said. "His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands' sound."

Davies wrote songs including 1974's Bloody Well Right, their US chart breakthrough; and 1979's Goodbye Stranger.

Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1944, Davies started off in a series of bands including one called The Joint. They didn't make it big but did attract the support of Dutch millionaire Stanley August Miesegaes, who offered to back Davies if he started a new group.

So Davies put an advert for new bandmates in Melody Maker magazine in 1969, and Supertramp were born, with funding from Miesegaes for their first few years.

Davies shared writing and vocals with Hodgson, and the band found chart success with their third album, Crime of the Century, in 1974.

They made it big in the USA five years later with the album Breakfast In America, which included hit singles The Logical Song and the title track, as well as Goodbye Stranger.

The LP sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1980, including album of the year.

Relations between the two frontmen soured, however, and Hodgson left the group in 1983.

Davies continued to record and tour with Supertramp. They announced a reunion tour in 2015, but it was cancelled when Davies was diagnosed with cancer.