Dr. Hook's Ray Sawyer Dies at 81

BY Brock ThiessenPublished Dec 31, 2018

Ray Sawyer — the eyepatch-wearing singer who led '70s rock group Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show — has died. He was 81.

While no cause of death has been revealed, Sawyer suffered a brief illness from which he did not recover, Page Six reports. He passed away in Daytona Beach, FL, according to his publicist.

In addition to his distinctive cowboy hat and eyepatch, Alabama-born Sawyer may be best known for singing lead on Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show's "Cover of Rolling Stone," which was released in 1972. He later did really appear on the cover of the magazine in 1973.

Other hits by the band included  "Sylvia's Mother," "A Little Bit More," "Only Sixteen," "Walk Right In," "Sharing the Night Together," "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," "Better Love Next Time" and "Sexy Eyes."

Sawyer left the group in 1981 to pursue a solo career, but he went on to spend much of his later career touring with the spinoff group Dr Hook Featuring Ray Sawyer. The musician retired only three years ago.

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