Dennis Locorriere, lead vocalist and guitarist of the offbeat '70s country rock band Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show, has died at 76. "After a long and courageous battle with kidney disease, [he] passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on May 16th 2026," reads a statement from his band's website. "Dennis faced his illness with remarkable 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 in 1949 in Union City, New Jersey, where Dr. Hook formed. The band's debut album Doctor Hook arrived in 1972 and was largely written by author/poet Shel Silverstein, who by that point had already penned the Johnny Cash hit "A Boy Named Sue." The album was commercially successful and spawned Dr. Hook's first hit "Sylvia's Mother." Their sophomore album Sloppy Seconds arrived the following year and included what's now one of their best known songs, "The Cover Of 'Rolling Stone,'" a satire on music industry clout that did, in fact, land them on the cover of Rolling Stone (albeit in caricature form).
Until their farewell tour in 1985, Dr. Hook were prolific, releasing 11 studio albums in as many years. Locorriere remained active, releasing three studio albums under his name. He wrote songs made famous by other artists, including "You Ain't Got The Right" by Olivia Newton-John, as well as "A Couple More Years" which was recorded by Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, and more. He continued to consistently tour playing Dr. Hook's music, until announcing last November that he was retiring.
