Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer born Ric Otcasek in Baltimore, later shortening his name to Ocasek. He attended Lansdowne High School until age 16 when his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
In his early 20’s he began a collaboration with guitarist/bassist Benjamin Orr in bands together. They moved to Boston in the early ‘70s and formed the band Milkweed, releasing one album. Later with Elliot Easton (guitar) they formed Cap’n Swing. By 1976 the band had gone through numerous personnel changes, Ocasek, Orr, and Easton, with the addition of Greg Hawkes (bass guitarist/keyboardist originally from Fulton, Maryland, had attended Berklee School of Music), and David Robinson (drums – later a member of The Modern Lovers) they became The Cars in 1976.
The Cars released seven albums and scored 18 Billboard Top 100 hits – including 4 Top 10. Ocasek also released seven solo albums and scored three Hot 100 hits including the Top 10 hit “Emotions in Motion.”
Ric and The Cars were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ric passed away on September 15, 2019.
Below: photos of The Cars display at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio
