Ric Ocasek, frontman for The Cars, died at 75, Rock and Blues Muse

Rick Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars, died Sunday in his Manhattan home.

According to Variety, Ric Ocasek, frontman for The Cars rock band, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday. He was 75.

The Cars and Ocasek were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Police were called to Ocasek’s residence about 4pm EST Sunday. “Upon arrival, police found a 75 year old male unresponsive in bed,” Police Detective Martin Brown said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The Cars, famed for hits “Drive”, “Shake It Up” and “Just What I Needed,”  broke through in 1978 and Ocasek, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, David Robinson and Benjamin Orr were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 (Orr, the band’s original bassist and singer, died of pancreatic cancer in 2000.)

With a sound that blended new wave and classic rock, The Cars had 13 top 40 singles including, “Just What I Needed,” “Best Friend’s Girls” “Let’s Go”  “Shake It Up” “You Might Think”  and the ballad “Drive.”

Ocasek produced numerous albums for several artists and released seven solo albums.

Ocasek and his wife of almost 30 years, supermodel Paulina Porizkova, split in 2018 and have two sons together. The couple met when she starred in the video for 1984’s “Drive.”

Ocasek was also a producer who collaborated with other bands. He was born Richard Theodore Ocasek in Baltimore, according to Reuters. The Cars became on one of the most influential American Bands of the late 1970s and 1980s with their blend of new wave and 1960s pop/rock.

RIP.

For more information on Rick Ocasek and The Cars:

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