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| Dr Hook's Ray Sawyer dies aged 81 | Dr Hook's Ray Sawyer dies aged 81 |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ray Sawyer - the eye-patch wearing singer with Dr Hook & the Medicine Show in the 1970s - has died, aged 81. | |
| Sawyer died in Daytona, Florida, after "a brief illness", according to US website Page Six. | Sawyer died in Daytona, Florida, after "a brief illness", according to US website Page Six. |
| The band is best known for the song When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman, which was a number one hit in the UK in 1979. | The band is best known for the song When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman, which was a number one hit in the UK in 1979. |
| Sawyer joined Dr Hook in 1969, two years after he lost an eye in a car accident. | Sawyer joined Dr Hook in 1969, two years after he lost an eye in a car accident. |
| Despite not being the lead singer, his eye patch - and cowboy hat - meant he was the most easily recognised. | Despite not being the lead singer, his eye patch - and cowboy hat - meant he was the most easily recognised. |
| But Sawyer, who was born in Chickasaw, Alabama, in 1937, did take lead vocals on one early hit, 1972's Cover of the Rolling Stone. | But Sawyer, who was born in Chickasaw, Alabama, in 1937, did take lead vocals on one early hit, 1972's Cover of the Rolling Stone. |
| In the song's lyrics, he sang: "The biggest thrill we've never known is the thrill that'll getcha when you get your picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone." | |
| Dr Hook did eventually appear - in caricature - on the front of the famous magazine in 1973. | Dr Hook did eventually appear - in caricature - on the front of the famous magazine in 1973. |
| "Here was this little band from Alabama standing on the corner saying, 'Hey, put us on the cover', and it worked," he later said, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. | "Here was this little band from Alabama standing on the corner saying, 'Hey, put us on the cover', and it worked," he later said, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. |
| "It was a dream come true." | "It was a dream come true." |
| The band's other hits included Sylvia's Mother, | The band's other hits included Sylvia's Mother, |
| Sawyer left the band in 1981 to pursue a solo career, but went on to spend much of his later career touring with a spin-off group named Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer. | Sawyer left the band in 1981 to pursue a solo career, but went on to spend much of his later career touring with a spin-off group named Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer. |
| He retired just three years ago. | He retired just three years ago. |