Ric Ocasek, R.I.P.

Ric Ocasek, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the 1970's and 1980's band The Cars, was found dead in his New York City townhouse. No cause of death has been released.

Ocasek was the principle songwriter on The Cars' big hits - "You're Just What I Needed", "Shake It Up", "You Might Think", "Magic" and "Drive" (which was sung by Ben Orr who passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2000). During the making of the video "Drive", Ocasek met supermodel Paulina Porizkova whom he married in 1990 and had two children in addition to four other children from two previous marriages. Porizkova ended their marriage last year.

After The Cars broke up in 1988, Ocasek released five solo albums between 1990 and 2005 to little fanfare. The remaining members of The Cars reformed with Todd Rundgren as their lead singer although they did record an album in 2010 and toured in 2011. The Cars reunited one last time when they were inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

When I think of Ocasek I think of him at the height of his success with The Cars in 1984. In particular, it's video for "You Might Think" which featured a close up of Ocasek and his distinctive dark glasses. A cool video of a cool song by a cool cat. R.I.P.