Dennis Locorriere, the gravelly-voiced founding member of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, has died at age 76. According to Rolling Stone, the New Jersey legend passed away Saturday following a long battle with kidney disease.
The band announced his death in a statement Sunday. "Dennis faced his illness with remarkable strength, dignity, and resilience throughout," the statement read, asking for privacy for his loved ones as they grieve.
Locorriere co-founded the country rock group in 1969, initially serving as bassist and lead vocalist. When the band signed with Columbia Records, they worked with children's book author Shel Silverstein, who wrote nearly all the songs on their first two albums.
The hits kept coming throughout the Seventies. Fans sang along to Locorriere-fronted classics like "Sylvia's Mother," "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," and "Sexy Eyes." His voice became the soundtrack to countless road trips and AM radio singalongs.
After shortening their name to simply Dr. Hook in the mid-Seventies, the group scored more success with covers and originals. While bandmate Ray Sawyer sang the mega-hit "The Cover of Rolling Stone" (Sawyer himself passed in 2018), Locorriere's delivery on ballads like "Sharing the Night Together" showcased the band's range.
Locorriere announced his retirement from touring in November 2025.
He left behind a catalog of '70s anthems that still get rotation on classic rock stations.
