Ric Ocasek, Lead Singer of The Cars, Dead in New York at 75

[Miles Archer]

Ric Ocasek, Lead Singer of The Cars, Dead in New York at 75

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Ric-Ocasek-Cars-Singer-Dead-in-NY-at-75-560430391.html

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the rock band The Cars, died Sunday in New York at age 75.

Police said they received a call around 4 p.m. for an unconscious male at a townhouse on East 19th Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement sources confirmed the deceased was Ocasek.

Ocasek and his band were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2018. The institution described the band as "hook-savvy with the perfect combo of new wave and classic rock."

The band had 13 top-40 singles, and Ocasek went on to a successful producing career after The Cars broke up in the late 1980s.

[LakeArenal]

1. Oh I loved the Cars.

Ric and Paulina, too

RIP Ric. ✌🏼

[hlthe2b]

2. Losing a lot of performers lately. RIP, Rick

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. :( Damn...

[aeromanKC]

4. 2018..??

Seriously Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. C'mon Man!!

[Ohiogal]

5. OMG

I can barely process this ... I saw the Cars at the Rock Hall induction ceremony last year .... Ocasek sounded great .... I just can’t believe it!! We are losing way too many of the good ones....

[Coventina]

6. So bummed about this.

[LenaBaby61]

7. Really liked a LOT of The Cars music .....

But this one is my favorite (1983/1984)💖

My late Mom, a blues enthusiast loved this one too ....

RIP

[ms liberty]

12. One of the few songs he did not sing, IIRC. But a great song, nonetheless. n/t

[Docreed2003]

14. Correct

He wrote it but their bassist sang it

[Miles Archer]

15. Yes, that was Benjamin Orr, who left us in 2000

Ric was the sole songwriter on the track, Benjamin the lead vocalist.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Actually, Ben & Ric...

...sang leads about 50:50.
Ric even wrote lyrics, sang the demo, then decided later that Ben should sing lead on the record
Vocally, they were very egalitarian.
And now, both voices are silenced

[spooky3]

24. Ric said when a song he wrote required a really good singer,

He gave it to Ben to sing.

Ric wrote the basics of nearly all of their songs, but then Elliot, Greg, David and Ben—and sometimes a producer—would experiment and build on it until they reached the right sound.

They were all extremely talented.

RIP Ric and Ben.

[emmaverybo]

13. Lovely. Thank you. To your mom...

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. This video is where Ric and Paulina met

Last edited Mon Sep 16, 2019, 09:09 AM - Edit history (1)

They separated last year but were together for over 30 years.

[smirkymonkey]

20. They were married for 28 years.

Which is a long time for a celebrity relationship. The article said that they had just put their East 19th Street house on the market for $15 million.

[spooky3]

25. Here's their SNL performance of "Drive"-- it's great.

https://m.facebook.com/logged_out/watch/?video_id=201763979835428&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F&_rdr

[Wounded Bear]

8. Who's gonna drive him home?

[AJT]

9. Drive....one of my faves

This so sad.

[2naSalit]

10. *sigh*

RIP...

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. RIP

really sad, I always loved the Cars, and haven't listened to them much for quite a while.

This was probably my favorite, although the whole Candy-O album was good.

[Blue Owl]

16. Ric Ocasek, Friend of the Show

Remember his appearances on the Colbert Report?

Love The Cars and thanks for all the great tunes, Ric.....

[hibbing]

17. Loved them

Bringing back some good memories for me. Summer, first more serious girlfriend. Time flies!


Peace

[IcyPeas]

18. the video in the link shows his artwork too

very colorful....

[Coventina]

21. I loved his cameo in the original "Hairspray"

[lunamagica]

22. ...

[Anon-C]

26. ...