Ray Sawyer

February 1, 1937 – December 31, 2018

The charismatic backing vocalist and percussionist with Dr Hook & The Medicine Show died peacefully in his sleep on New Year’s Eve, aged 81. Rarely seen without his trademark cowboy hat, Sawyer also sported a patch after losing an eye in a near-fatal car accident. Though he was not responsible for fronting the countrified soft rockers – a role that fell to band-mate Dennis Locorriere – his strong visual appearance made him a focal point. However, Sawyer was responsible for singing one of the group’s most famous tunes, 1972’s Cover Of The Rolling Stone.

Born in Chickasaw, Alabama, Sawyer co-founded Dr Hook & The Medicine Show in 1968, working up a riotous, zany act in the rowdy bars of Locorriere’s home turf in Union City, New Jersey. There followed a run of hits, including Sylvia’s Mother, but by 1974 the band went bankrupt, choosing to celebrate the fact with an album of the same name. After dropping the ‘Medicine Show’ part of their name they continued to make the charts with the likes of Only Sixteen, A Little Bit More, When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman and Sexy Eyes but with their style taking on distinct disco-lite undertones internal morale was declining and Sawyer walked out in 1983.

After leaving the band he pursued a solo career, later forming a rival act called Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer. Having tripped on a kerb at a motorway service station in Swindon, the singer’s health began to suffer and he did not perform again publicly after a final tour that wrapped in October 2015. Sawyer died in Daytona Beach, Florida, following a brief unspecified illness. “Ray lived the rock and roll life right up to the age of 81,” said a statement from his management team, describing their client as a consummate “road dog”.

Although Locorriere had not spoken to Sawyer for several years, the singer told Rolling Stone: “It does not erase the fact that we were once close friends and shared an important time in both our lives. Deep condolences go out to his family at what must be a difficult time.” DL