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'Dr. Hook' Founder Ray Sawyer Dies at 81
newsmax ^ | Tuesday, 01 January 2019 | Jason Devaney

Posted on 01/01/2019 3:42:04 PM PST by Eddie01

One of the founding members of the band Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show died this week after a brief illness.

According to Page Six, Ray Sawyer died Monday at age 81. He mostly sang in the background and played various percussion instruments in several of the band's songs, but he was on lead vocals for the 1972 hit "The Cover of Rolling Stone."

The song, written by cartoonist and writer Shel Silverstein, sang a tale about the band wanting to appear on the cover of the popular music magazine. Four months after the song was released, the band accomplished that feat.

Sawyer, George Cummings, Billy Francis, and Dennis Locorriere formed the band in 1968. The band released nine studio albums with Sawyer until he left in 1981 to pursue a solo career, according to Rolling Stone.

Sawyer toured from 1988-2015, at which point he stopped because of health issues. He was known for wearing an eye patch after losing his right eye in a car accident in 1967. The Alabama native also wore a cowboy hat.

*snip*

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: drhook; raysawyer; rollingstone
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To: Eddie01

Music used to be fun.


21 posted on 01/01/2019 4:34:12 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Eddie01
I remember "Cover of the Rolling Stone" well. It was an edgy song for the time and I think some radio stations wouldn't play it.

The lyrics were pretty clever. My favorite part:

We got a lot of little teenage blue eyed groupies
Who do anything we say
We got a genuine Indian Guru
Who's teaching us a better way

Obviously they were channeling The Beatles here.

22 posted on 01/01/2019 4:39:10 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: Tijeras_Slim
"She don't say nothing, but baby makes her blue jeans talk!"


23 posted on 01/01/2019 4:40:05 PM PST by boop (You went to bed last night, and woke up stupid?)
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To: I cannot think of a name

Did Jim Stafford do that, too? It’s what I’m remembering


24 posted on 01/01/2019 4:48:09 PM PST by smalltownslick
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To: I cannot think of a name
I remember the HUGE controversy about “I was stoned and I missed it” including the line, “it took 16 weeks of urging just to get the local virgin.........” Funny how all that stuff seems so completely innocent compared to any of today’s rap lyrics.

Heck, "One Toke Over Line" was even performed once on The Lawrence Welk Show.

25 posted on 01/01/2019 4:49:55 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Yo-Yo

That was a Sam Cooke song


26 posted on 01/01/2019 4:51:38 PM PST by smalltownslick
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To: smalltownslick
. That was a Sam Cooke song

It was covered by Dr. Hook on their “Bankrupt” album. Good version. Dennis L. was singing lead.

27 posted on 01/01/2019 4:57:28 PM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: Eddie01

Back in the day (35+ yrs ago) before I weaned myself from the constantly listening to music addiction, I probably liked “when you’re in love with a beautiful woman” more than any of their other songs.

Over 41 years ago, guys certainly noticed my beautiful girlfriend. They later noticed my beautiful fiancé. And still later, they noticed my beautiful wife. Today, she’s the same lady, and still beautiful at 61 (and doesn’t wear a speck of makeup).

She loves Jesus Christ more than me. But I’m ok with that, because He tells her to love her husband. It’s a great system; I highly recommend it.


28 posted on 01/01/2019 5:21:27 PM PST by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: smalltownslick

Yes but that was a good cover stripped of the schmaltzy accoutrements laid on the original and it landed @ the top 5. IIRC they did it on Bandstand


29 posted on 01/01/2019 5:26:17 PM PST by Phil DiBasquette
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To: Eddie01

RIP Ray Sawyer.

Dr Hook is one of my all time favorites.


30 posted on 01/01/2019 5:56:12 PM PST by Irish Eyes
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To: Eddie01

Sad to see the music icons we grew up pass on. On the bright side, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are still with us.


31 posted on 01/01/2019 5:57:14 PM PST by wjcsux (The hyperventilating of the left means we are winning! (Tagline courtesy of Laz.))
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To: Eddie01
Southeast Asia - Early seventies, slinging EW pods - Wolfman Jack on AFRTS. "Cover of the Rolling Stone" - Hey everybody hold up five minutes. We had to listen .
32 posted on 01/01/2019 6:39:30 PM PST by dagunk
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To: Eddie01
he was on lead vocals for the 1972 hit "The Cover of Rolling Stone." ,br> The song, written by cartoonist and writer Shel Silverstein, sang a tale about the band wanting to appear on the cover of the popular music magazine. Four months after the song was released, the band accomplished that feat.

On the Cover of the Music City News--Buck Owens (1974)

33 posted on 01/01/2019 7:05:02 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: Eddie01

When I think of Dr. Hook I think of ‘When you’re in Love With A Beautiful Woman”


34 posted on 01/01/2019 7:22:29 PM PST by greenishness
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To: Eddie01

Bump


35 posted on 01/01/2019 7:25:49 PM PST by foreverfree
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To: Eddie01

RIP in the Sweet Lord’s arms.
Their music certainly added greatly to my days and nights.


36 posted on 01/01/2019 7:30:42 PM PST by TianaHighrider
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To: CaliforniaCraftBeer

Buncha happy white boys just being white boys. Is that even legal in America anymore?

Sigh...


37 posted on 01/01/2019 9:14:09 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: boop

Indeedy Dee...

Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk

38 posted on 01/01/2019 9:21:54 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: Eddie01
I like Cover of the Rolling Stone and Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk
39 posted on 01/01/2019 9:25:18 PM PST by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.)
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To: Windflier

You beat me - great song.


40 posted on 01/01/2019 9:26:13 PM PST by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.)
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