Ocasek

Ocasek (Ric Ocasek; March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter of the rock band the Cars, whose blend of guitar-driven rock with synth textures helped define late 1970s and early 1980s new wave.

As a founding member of the Cars, Ocasek helped craft a string of hit songs and albums that brought the band mainstream success, including singles such as Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, and Drive from albums The Cars (1978), Candy-O (1979), Panorama (1980), Shake It Up (1981) and Heartbeat City (1984). His distinctive vocal style and melodic songwriting were central to the band's sound.

Beyond the Cars, Ocasek released solo material, including the album Beatitude, and pursued work as a producer for other artists. He is credited with producing Weezer's debut album, The Blue Album, helping shape the band's early sound.

Ric Ocasek died at his home in Manhattan, New York, on September 15, 2019, at the age of 75. His work with the Cars and his production- and songwriting contributions influenced a generation of rock and power-pop musicians.