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Dennis Locorriere, founding member of the country rock band Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show from the seventies, died at the age of 76.
Locorriere died on Saturday after a “long and courageous battle with kidney disease,” the band – known for “Cover of the Rolling Stone” – announced in a statement on Sunday. Locorriere had already announced his retirement from the stage in November 2025.
“Dennis demonstrated remarkable strength, dignity and resilience in the face of his illness and remained deeply dear to all who knew him. He will be remembered for his warmth, his love and the lasting impression he left on those around him,” the statement said. “We would like to thank everyone who has supported Dennis on his journey and ask that the privacy of his loved ones be respected as they mourn this profound loss.”
Founded by Dr. Hook
Born in New Jersey, Locorriere founded Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show in 1969 and initially took over bass and lead vocals. After signing with Columbia, the country-rock group teamed up with children’s author Shel Silverstein, who wrote all but one song from the first two albums: “Doctor Hook” (1972) and “Sloppy Seconds” (1973).
These LPs included the singles “Sylvia’s Mother” and “Carry Me, Carrie,” sung by Locorriere, as well as the band’s biggest hit, “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’,” which band member Ray Sawyer sang – Sawyer died in 2018.
After changing their band name to Dr. Hook shortened, Locorriere and the band scored hits with covers of “A Little Bit More” and “Sharing the Night Together” as well as their own songs such as “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman”, “Sexy Eyes” and “Better Love Next Time” – the last three appeared on the 1979 album “Sometimes You Win”.
Connection to Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan
“A Couple More Years,” a song Locorriere co-wrote with Silverstein for Dr. Hook’s 1976 album “A Little Bit More” was later covered by both Willie Nelson (on “Waylon & Willie”, 1978) and Bob Dylan – Dylan’s version appeared on “The Bootleg Series Vol. 16”.
After the band’s farewell tour in 1985, Locorriere secured the rights to the band’s name and continued to tour as Dr. Hook; Sawyer in turn licensed the name and went with his own formation, Dr. Hook with Ray Sawyer, on tour. In addition to his work with Dr. Hook, Locorriere has also released a number of solo albums over the past few decades.
