Kid Rock's Father, Bill Ritchie Sr. Passed Away

William Ritchie Sr, father to Kid Rock, died on Thursday, Feb. 15. According to The Detroit News, William Ritchie, Sr and his wife, Susan Ritchie, had four children. Kid Rock was the third in line.

When Kid Rock first became involved in the Detroit hip-hop scene, his father wasn't sure what to think. Later, he made an effort to be more open-minded to his son's pursuits.

Rock described his father as a man with a strong work ethic and a love for country music, The Rolling Stones and Bob Seger. Ritchie, Sr. lived in Michigan and once owned a Lincoln-Mercury dealership.

In a 2009 interview with dbusiness , Rock credited his parents with his love of music and, quite honestly, a good party.

"I just might have taken it to a little more of an extreme.  They loved rock 'n' roll, classic rock, country music. My dad liked a lot of the outlaw country stuff—Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, all of the early Sun Records; they loved Elton John and Fleetwood Mac. They both loved The Rolling Stones and, of course, Bob Seger was basically spoon-fed to me."

Even after struggling with their relationship for a time, Rock and his father were very close. His father even self-described as "Daddy Rock." Rock shared the news with a heartfelt post on social media.

Likely to honor his father, Rock signed the post - Bob Ritchie. Kid Rock was born in Romeo, Mich., on Jan. 17, 1971. He was given the name Robert Ritchie.

Despite facing many challenges and hardships, including ultimately his parents' divorce, Kid Rock spoke fondly of his father and the impact he had on his upbringing.

Their bond, rooted in a shared passion for music and a commitment to family, serves as a testament to the enduring influence of parental support and guidance in Kid Rock's life and career.