One of rocks savviest hookmeisters ever, circa the 1970s
One of rock's savviest hookmeisters ever, circa the 1970s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Ric Ocasek, who became rock's skinniest superstar and one of its savviest hookmeisters as frontman for Boston new wave group the Cars, died in his Manhattan home on September 15. Cause of death has not been reported yet; he was either 75 or 70, depending on which source you believe. (This is strange; how can there be such a discrepancy in a person born in the mid-20th century? Anyway...)

A master minimalist in the pop-rock realm, vocalist/rhythm guitarist/composer Ocasek scored several hits with the Cars and fashioned a respectable solo career full of elegant, moody songs that dissected romance and existentialism in an accessible manner. He also produced records for edgier artists such as synth-punk duo Suicide (plus two Alan Vega solo joints) and hardcore punk/reggae pioneers Bad Brains, as well as indie-rock workhorses Guided by Voices and Weezer, Jonathan Richman, Le Tigre, and Romeo Void. Ocasek and future Cars bandmate Benjamin Orr also played in the prog-rock group Milkwood, which released one LP in 1972.

Ocasek's voice had its limitations, but its strained, deadpan-geeky quality lent itself well to new wave's emphasis on melodic and rhythmic tension. And it meshed wonderfully with the greater pliability of fellow Cars vocalist Orr, who sang on the band's impossibly infectious breakout 1978 single, the Ocasek-penned "Just What I Needed." Talk about busting out of the gate with a bang...

The Cars became one of those rare rock groups that appealed to casual music consumers and to people who are into more challenging sounds. They were instrumental in wresting away air time from classic-rock behemoths in the late 1970s and opening up radio programmers to new wave's more stripped-down and electronic-enhanced sounds.

At their best, the Cars' melodies and dynamics are so ingeniously conceived, they can withstand hundreds of listens without one tiring of their charms. Testifying to their adaptability and diversity, Cars songs have been covered by Melvins, Smashing Pumpkins, Red House Painters, Ernie Isley, Powerman 5000, and many others, and have been sampled by hip-hop artists such as Lil' Bow Wow, Yelawolf, and Mac Dre.

On a personal note, the Cars were the first concert I attended: 1980 at the massive outdoor Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan—not an optimal place to enjoy music, but it was fantastic nonetheless. I went with my girlfriend at the time, and she, knowing how much I dug the Cars, later surprised me by dressing in the same kind of sheer black bodysuit that the model sported on the cover of Candy-O—Candy Moore, as drawn by the renowned artist Alberto Vargas. That was a beyond-the-call-of-duty relationship move... From the get-go, the Cars were ubiquitous on Detroit radio, and not just because their name resonated so strongly with Motor City denizens. Their tunes were built to last much longer than the vehicles Detroit manufactured.

That's the kind of devotion Ocasek and the Cars inspired. Their catalog—especially the first three albums: The Cars, Candy-O, and Panorama—are loaded with camaraderie-inducing choruses and the sort of relatable lyrics that make them karaoke staples and canonical radio fodder upon which fans of many musical styles could agree.

Let's give the last word to Tom Scharpling, the writer/director/host of The Best Show, because he nails it succinctly.