Dennis Locorriere, Lead Singer of "Dr. Hook" Dies at 76

Dennis Locorriere, the lead singer and guitarist for Dr. Hook, died Saturday. He was 76.

The band announced Locorriere's death in a statement posted on its website.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dennis Locorriere, who, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on May 16, 2026," the statement said. "Dennis faced his illness with strength, dignity and resilience throughout, and remained deeply cherished by all who knew him. He will be remembered for his warmth, love, and the lasting impact he had on those around him."

Locorriere was born June 13, 1949, in New Jersey. In 1968, George Cummings, Ray Sawyer and Billy Francis recruited him to form a new group. The band became known as Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, later shortened to Dr. Hook.

The group landed its first record contract in 1970 after appearing in the Dustin Hoffman film "Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?"

Dr. Hook became known for its country pop-rock sound and found success throughout the 1970s. Hits included "Sylvia's Mother," "The Cover of Rolling Stone," "Only Sixteen," "Sharing the Night Together," and "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman." The band's final Top 10 hit, "Sexy Eyes," came out in 1980.

"We started, we were a bar band. We were playing whatever it took to keep us from being killed," Locorriere said in a 2015 interview with 100% Rock Magazine. "Country music, anything. People would come up and say, 'Do you know how to play... [such and such]?' and we'd say, 'Yes, we do.' That's what you did. Then we went out on the road, had some success, supported a lot of different bands like Alice Cooper, Kiss, Sly & the Family Stone, Blues Festivals, Frank Zappa, and the Eagles. We had to fit everywhere and we did. We were that kind of band."

Dr. Hook held a farewell tour in 1985. Locorriere later launched a solo career and kept rights to the Dr. Hook name, touring under it regularly. He released 14 studio albums-11 with Dr. Hook and three solo.

Songs written or co-written by Locorriere were also recorded by artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis and Olivia Newton-John.