News of his death was announced on Cousins’ official Facebook page, citing his “long illness.”
The statement said: “It is with deep sadness that we have to announce the death of David Joseph Cousins at Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury following a peaceful long illness, today, Sunday 13 July 2025.
“We all want to celebrate the life of this incredible singer-songwriter, relationship, colleague and/or special friend at this time.”
Fans were encouraged to listen to their favorite songs from the rock legend, as well as what the cousins refer to as a “glass of vino collapse” (wine).
He added: “We ask that you join in remembering a wonderful and talented man whose life touched us all.”
Cousins was born in 1940 and founded the band originally known as The Strawberry Hill Boys in 1964.
An obituary dedicated to the talented songwriter, band lead singer and independent local radio entrepreneur said: “Born into a working-class family in West London, David had a unique, varied and distinguished career.
“He was one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters to emerge from the British scene in the 1960s, before becoming a pioneer of independent local radio in the 1980s and 1990s.”
Cousins met Strawbs member Tony Hooper on his first day attending Thames Valley Grammar School in Twickenham.
After school, he formed a skiffle group with Hooper and two other friends called the Four Bottle Gin, before going on to the University of Leicester.
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There, Cousins majored in mathematics and statistics, while being heavily involved in the student music scene.
Cousins then founded the University Folklore Society, as well as being president of the Jazz Club that competed for the basement of the Student Union building.
The Four bottle of gin eventually became the Strawberry Hill boys, as the cousins became known for their quick banjo picking, inimitable vocal style, and haunting songwriting.
The Strawbs moved from folk to progressive rock after being first signed to A&M Records and releasing the album “All Our Own Work”, which was recorded in 1967.
Since then, they have released 23 studio albums, with the most recent in 2023.
Their best-known single was “Part of the Union”, which reached number two in the UK singles charts in February 1973.
