Ric Ocasek, lead singer, guitarist, record producer and easily identifiable tall and lanky easily of The Cars, died Sunday at 75 in New York City, police said.
The New York Police Department received a call around 4 p.m. “for an unconscious male” at a townhouse on East 19th Street, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information told CNN. Ocasek, whose identity was confirmed by police, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ocasek’s contributions to rock as lead singer, bassist and producer are numerous. The Cars were one of the most influential new-wave rock bands of all time, where hit singles mingled with cutting edge new-wave that created seven well-received albums, including early single that are mainstays of classic rock radio and 1984’s Heartbeat City that received non-stop MTV airplay for “You Might Think,” Magic” and Drive.” The Cars reunited in 2011 for their strong comeback LP Move Like This. Ocasek also found success as a producer including Bad Brains’ Rock for Light and Guided by Voices’ Do the Collapse. His other production credits include Weezer’s Blue Album and Green Album, Nada Surf Black 47 and Bad Religion
