Dennis Locorriere, the guitarist and singer with the chart-topping soft rock band Dr Hook, has died aged 76. A statement from his management company said he died on Saturday after a long battle with kidney disease. He faced his illness with remarkable strength and dignity, and remained deeply cherished by all who knew him.
Locorriere shared lead vocal duties with Ray Sawyer and was part of the band for its entire run from 1969 to 1985. They scored hits such as When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman, which spent three weeks at UK No 1 in 1979. Other successes included Sylvia’s Mother, The Cover of Rolling Stone, A Little Bit More, and Sharing the Night Together.
Born in New Jersey in 1949, Locorriere was in his late teens when he joined a group of older musicians. He played vocals, bass, guitar and harmonica, saying he did not want a regular job as he was a hippy. The band, initially called Dr Hook and the Medicine Show, signed to CBS in 1971 and achieved immediate success.
Locorriere’s boyish yet soulful voice paired with Sawyer’s grizzled country tones. He was the leading voice on their biggest hit, When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman, an up-tempo disco-pop song sung with wry humour. He co-wrote some songs, including A Couple More Years, covered by Bob Dylan, and You Ain’t Got the Right, covered by Olivia Newton-John.
After Dr Hook’s farewell tour in 1985, Locorriere toured under his own name and released three solo albums between 2000 and 2010. He was married three times, eventually settling in Sussex, UK, with his third wife.
