Sir Rod Stewart paid a heartbreaking tribute to record producer Richard Perry after his tragic death this week.
The legendary Grammy award winner passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 82, in a Los Angeles hospital following a cardiac arrest.
Perry was best known for success with hits including Carly Simon’s You’re so Vain, a Ringo Starr album and Rod’s The Great American Songbook series.
He was beloved by music fans and artists alike.
Sir Rod took to Instagram yesterday to play tribute to his “dear buddy” and spoke of the devastation felt by both him and wife Penny Lancaster: “Dearest Richard, farewell, my dear buddy. They say in life a man is lucky if he can count his true friends on one hand, and you were certainly one of them.
“Now I’ve lost you, and I’m devastated We played and worked so closely together for so many years, creating some of the most memorable music together.
“You were there when Penny and I first started dating, encouraging our relationship. We are both in tears as I post this farewell.”
Rod and Richard had worked together on several projects, most notably The Great American Songbook series, which achieved both commercial and critical success.
In the early 2000s, after Rod’s marriage to Rachel Hunter ended, Perry was one of the people who offered him support.
As Rod was struggling to write new material, Richard and Rod agreed that an album of classic might be the solution, resulting in renditions of songs such as The Very Thought of You, Angel Eyes and Where or When.
In his autobiography, Rod fondly recalled Perry’s West Hollywood home as a vibrant hotspot for late-night revelry throughout the ’70s and beyond, where visitors could always count on impromptu parties filled with drinks, music, and dancing.
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Richard was also remembered by his friend Daphna Kastner.
Referring to him as a “father friend” and godfather to her son, Kastner said: “He maximised his time here.” She added: “He was generous, fun, sweet, and made the world a better place. The world is a little less sweet without him here, but it’s a little bit sweeter in heaven.”
Richard demonstrated a wide-range of musical abilities, from being a former drummer, oboist and doo-wop singer to producing number 1 hits across the pop, R&B, dance and country charts.
Recognised as a “musician’s producer,” Richard treated artists as equals rather than just instruments for his own preferences.
Singers turned to him to refresh their sound (Barbra Streisand), recapture their past success (Stewart), revive their careers (Fats Domino), or unlock their full potential (Leo Sayer).
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