Dr. Hook's Ray Sawyer, 'Cover of Rolling Stone' Singer, Dead at 81

[DinahMoeHum]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dr-hook-ray-sawyer-dead-773938/

Ray Sawyer, the Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show member who sang the 1973 Shel Silverstein-penned hit “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone,'” has died at the age of 81.

The Alabama-born Sawyer – who founded the group with Dennis Locorriere, Billy Francis and George Cummings – was a member of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show from 1969 to 1981. A few years before the band’s formation, Sawyer lost his right eye in a car accident; Sawyer wore an eyepatch that made him resemble the Peter Pan villain Captain Hook, which served as the inspiration for the Dr. Hook moniker.

In 1970, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show’s demo tapes wound up in the hands of author and songwriter Shel Silverstein, who recruited the band to become a vessel for his music: The group would turn Silverstein-written tracks like “Sylvia’s Mother” and “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone'” into hits and released two albums of Silverstein-penned songs, 1971’s Dr. Hook and 1972’s Sloppy Seconds.

[mr_lebowski]

1. Aw, man! RIP Dr. Hook! They had some great ones and my dad had most of their records growing up ..

Another classic ...

[MontanaMama]

2. I used a Dr. Hook song

as the recessional at my wedding. Years From Now...

[GemDigger]

3. The funniest show I have ever seen. Repeatedly.

Rest in Peace, or smoke em if you have them. Thanks for all the laughs through the years.

[akraven]

4. Still have the album!

We transferred it to cassette in about 1976; now have it on DVD. I know every. single. word. (both sides)!

Ray, you'll be missed not just for your music, but for your humor! Thanks for being with us this long.

[redstateblues]

5. Ray Sawyer was a good man. RIP Brother

[ornotna]

6. RIP Ray Sawyer

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. How sad

[OnlinePoker]

8. I can still hear my departed mother asking which one was the doctor.

I had to explain it was just the name of the band.