Born on March 21: Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), the singer who makes people happy

Born in 1950 in the United Kingdom, in Hampshire, Roger Hodgson showed early promise: at 12, he gave his first concert.

It must be said that he already mastered the guitar, piano, and drums. A few years later, his mother encouraged him to audition. And as is well known, one should always listen to their mother; Hodgson's performance hit the mark. He caught Rick Davies' eye. Together, they founded Supertramp in 1969 and made a lasting impact on the history of art rock with albums such as 'Crime of The Century' or 'Breakfast in America'. 'Logical Song' remains certainly one of their most iconic songs, remaining at the top of the charts for many weeks. There's no denying it, the 70s were marked by Supertramp.

Over sixty million albums and songs that still resonate weren't enough to maintain harmony between the two stars however. Hodgson decided to leave Supertramp after seven albums, to strike out on his own. "It was a very difficult decision to make because Supertramp was my baby, I believed in the group more than I believed in myself. I had invested fourteen years of my life in it," he confided at the time. He quickly released his first solo album, 'In the Eye of The Storm', followed by 'Hai! Hai!'.

An accident then clouded his career, as he broke both his wrists. Doctors were adamant: he would never play the guitar again. So, he took a necessary break, focusing on his family and other aspirations. In 1997, more than a decade later, he released his third album and embarked on an endless tour. Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, the whole world welcomed him. "His immediately recognisable voice and vibrant chords are so perfect that you'll hear Hodgson's true kindness and personality which emanate in waves from the stage to the audience. He connects deeply with fans; in a way that only a few stars of his stature can," wrote an enchanted journalist. He was clearly not the only one to be captivated, since, even today, the artist continues to perform on stage even though his last tour ended in 2020. "All I do is try to make people happy," he confides. A wager that seems rather successful.

(MH with CMa - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Portrait of Roger Hodgson at the Hyatt Hotel in Brussels (Belgium) in November 1984 for the promotion of his first solo album 'In The Eye Of The Storm'