Ray Sawyer, R.I.P.

Ray Sawyer, a founding a member of the 1970's rock band Dr. Hook (a.k.a. Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show), passed away on December 31st of an brief, but undisclosed illness at the age of 81.


While fellow band member Dennis Locorriere sang lead vocals on a majority of their tracks, Sawyer was the most visible member of Dr. Hook due to his eye patch which he wore after losing his right eye in an accident in 1967. Sawyer's vocals were featured on the Shel Silverstein penned "Cover of Rolling Stone", a plea which would soon get them featured on said cover albeit in cartoon form.

Sawyer remained with Dr. Hook until 1981. He would spend most of the 1980's trying to establish himself as a solo act before forming his own incarnation of Dr. Hook in 1988. Sawyer would remain out on the road performing old Dr. Hook hits. As demonstrated by the video below, his music was particularly popular in Jamaica. But the party always must come to an end and his health forced him to quit touring in 2015. R.I.P.