Gerry Rafferty [checks out of Baker Street]
Jan 5, 2011 13:43:57 GMT -5
Post by franko on Jan 5, 2011 13:43:57 GMT -5
Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, who found fame in the 1970s with hits like Baker Street and Right Down the Line, has died. He was 63.
Rafferty died Tuesday at his home near Bournemouth, England, after a long illness, according to his agent Paul Charles. He had been an alcoholic much of his life and had been hospitalized with liver failure late last year.
Rafferty had played with two successful British groups, the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel before recording the solo album City to City in 1978.
His single Baker Street, with its trademark saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft, was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic and dominated top-40 radio in 1978. The song was recognized by musicians rights organization BMI at an awards ceremony in London last October, after having been played over five million times worldwide.
Rafferty refused to tour the U.S. in support of City to City and his next two solo albums, Night Owl and Snakes & Ladders didn't catch on.
Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1947, son of a Scottish mother and an Irish father. He left school in 1963 and played part-time in a local group, the Mavericks.
By 1968, he was a singer-guitarist, busking around London. He went through several bands before spending time with the Humblebums, a trio who were a major success throughout the U.K.
Rafferty developed his own distinctive sound in this time and cut his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back in 1971.
He and friend Joe Egan formed Stealers Wheel, which had a huge hit with the single Stuck in the Middle with You, but no commercial success after that. Rafferty later returned to Stealers Wheel songs with 1995's Over My Head.
Stuck in the Middle with You was part of the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
During the mid-'80s, he lapsed into obscurity, though he did contribute a song to the Scottish comedy film Local Hero.
In recent years, he was involved with several alcohol-fuelled incidents, including erratic stage performances and an apparent disappearance. His last album, Another World, was released in 2000.
Rafferty is divorced from his wife Carla, who he met at a dancehall when she was 15 and married five years later. He is survived by his daughter Martha, who was at his side when he died. link
Rafferty died Tuesday at his home near Bournemouth, England, after a long illness, according to his agent Paul Charles. He had been an alcoholic much of his life and had been hospitalized with liver failure late last year.
Rafferty had played with two successful British groups, the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel before recording the solo album City to City in 1978.
His single Baker Street, with its trademark saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft, was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic and dominated top-40 radio in 1978. The song was recognized by musicians rights organization BMI at an awards ceremony in London last October, after having been played over five million times worldwide.
Rafferty refused to tour the U.S. in support of City to City and his next two solo albums, Night Owl and Snakes & Ladders didn't catch on.
Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1947, son of a Scottish mother and an Irish father. He left school in 1963 and played part-time in a local group, the Mavericks.
By 1968, he was a singer-guitarist, busking around London. He went through several bands before spending time with the Humblebums, a trio who were a major success throughout the U.K.
Rafferty developed his own distinctive sound in this time and cut his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back in 1971.
He and friend Joe Egan formed Stealers Wheel, which had a huge hit with the single Stuck in the Middle with You, but no commercial success after that. Rafferty later returned to Stealers Wheel songs with 1995's Over My Head.
Stuck in the Middle with You was part of the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
During the mid-'80s, he lapsed into obscurity, though he did contribute a song to the Scottish comedy film Local Hero.
In recent years, he was involved with several alcohol-fuelled incidents, including erratic stage performances and an apparent disappearance. His last album, Another World, was released in 2000.
Rafferty is divorced from his wife Carla, who he met at a dancehall when she was 15 and married five years later. He is survived by his daughter Martha, who was at his side when he died. link
