Ric Ocasek, the frontman of US rock band The Cars, has died at the age of 75.
The singer was found dead at his apartment in Manhattan on Sunday afternoon.
The
New York City
police department said officers responded to a 911 after family called to report he was unresponsive.They said there was no sign of foul play and that the medical examiner was yet to determine a cause of death.
The Cars were formed in Boston in the mid-1970s by Ocasek and his band-mate Benjamin Orr after they met at high school.
They went on to enjoy chart success in the late 1970s and 1980s, but are best known for their huge worldwide hit, Drive.
The synth ballad was used as background
music for footage of the Ethiopian famine, and was re-released as a result, helping to raise money for the cause.
Ocasek met his wife, model and actress Paulina Porizkova, on the set of the video for the song.
In May last year, she announced on social media that she and Ocasek had separated after 28 years of marriage.
Many of Ric’s fellow musicians paid tribute on
Twitter following the news of his death...RIP Ric Ocasek. Great songwriter and singer for the Cars #RIPRicOcasek— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) September 16, 2019Sorry 2 hear about #ricocasek RIP loved his work with the band #Suicide— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) September 16, 2019Ahh man, say it ain’t so. I loved Ric Ocasek. What an interesting, smart, kind, funny man who made incredible records. I loved those Cars albums when I was a teenager. Perfect pop songs with those wicked elliot… https://t.co/SjtRU8OaJO— Flea (@flea333) September 16, 2019The weezer family is devastated by the loss of our friend and mentor Ric Ocasek, who passed away Sunday. We will miss him forever, & will forever cherish the precious times we got to work and hang out with him. Rest in Peace & rock on Ric, we love you. #RIPRicOcasek#karlscornerpic.twitter.com/JcTXevr6V8— weezer (@Weezer) September 16, 2019Aw, man. RIP #ricocasek and thank you for the songs on “Heartbeat City” alone. You were a true original.— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) September 16, 2019He is survived by his five sons, Oliver, Jonathan, Christopher, Eron and Derek.