Musicians pour in memorials for The Cars singer Rick Ocasek
By mbrooks on September 16, 2019
By Matthew Brooks
The lead singer of The Cars, Rick Ocasek, has died.
The NYPD has confirmed that police were called to Ocasek’s residence in New York City on Sunday.
The police has received a call about an “unconscious male”
Ocasek’s wife, Paulina Porizkova, found him unconscious and unresponsive at 4:14 p.m.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
CNN states that he reportedly died from natural causes.
Porizkova and Ocasek separated in 2018.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame received Ocasek and The Cars in 2018.
Ocasek says that his influences came from musicians that are among the fathers of rock.
“As a songwriter, oddly enough, my influences were people like Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground, and Buddy Holly. Some psychedelic stuff, too,” he said.
The Cars has 13 Top 40 singles.
In the 1970s, The Cars were put on the map with hits like “Just What I Needed.”
The band continued its popularity with “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Good Times Roll,” and “Bye Bye Love.”
Memorials poured in from the world of music.
We will remember #RicOcasek for many reasons-his friendship, his artistry, but most of all for his generosity. Here was a bona fide legend, who seemed to care as much about our record as we did. Which was a huge thrill, of course. A star through and through. RIP Ric, love you x pic.twitter.com/EvNjqzHotw
— The Cribs (@thecribs) September 16, 2019
The weezer family is devastated by the loss of our friend and mentor Ric Ocasek, who passed away Sunday. We will miss him forever, & will forever cherish the precious times we got to work and hang out with him. Rest in Peace & rock on Ric, we love you. #RIPRicOcasek #karlscorner pic.twitter.com/JcTXevr6V8
— weezer (@Weezer) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek. Great songwriter and singer for the Cars #RIPRicOcasek
— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) September 16, 2019
Ocasek was known for his good-natured attitude.
“Sometimes people say that bands sound like The Cars, but when I hear it I do not know if they do or not,” Ocasek had once said.
On his style of performing in his own way, he remarked how artists bring their personalities to the stage.
“I don’t think I’m an entertainer. I never think, ‘Wow, I can’t wait to get the crowd moving.’ Some of my favorite bands never moved an inch.”
Ocasek is survived by his six sons.
