Songwriter Gerry Rafferty dies

Gerald «Gerry» Rafferty was a Scottish singer and songwriter best known for his solo hits «Baker Street» and «Right Down the Line», and «Stuck in the Middle» with the band Stealers Wheel.

Just been talking about the great Gerry Rafferty on Radio Ulster. Back in ’78 I had just released my solo trad album «Welcome here Kind Stranger» when I heard «Baker Street» on the radio. In that instant I knew what direction I wanted to go. I ran out and bought the album «City to City» and it was like entering another world. So sad he was so troubled for most of his life.

Paul Brady, 5.1.2011

Photo: Gerry Rafferty (1980) http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Rafferty

Gerry Rafferty’s «Baker Street» provided a welcome relief from the wall-to-wall disco that dominated the UK charts in the late 1970s.

A masterpiece of record production and dominated by a haunting saxophone, it told the story of everyone who feels stuck in a rut with no prospect of improvement.

BBC

Gerry Rafferty was a popular music giant at the end of the ’70s, thanks to the song «Baker Street» and the album «City to City». His career long predated that fixture of Top 40 radio, however; indeed, by the time he cut «Baker Street» Rafferty had already been a member of two successful groups, the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel.

Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1947, the son of a Scottish mother and an Irish father. His father was deaf but still enjoyed singing, mostly Irish rebel songs, and his early experience of music was a combination of Catholic hymns, traditional folk music, and ’50s pop music.

He began his musical career as a busker, playing to the passers-by on London Underground, where the inspiration for his most famous hit was born.

For two decades, alcohol had dominated this creative and intelligent man’s life.

Michael Gray, «Guardian»

More:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11728112

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jan/04/gerry-rafferty-obituary

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5215

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40916839#40916839

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Rafferty

http://www.nzz.ch/saenger_gerry_rafferty_ist_gestorben_video_1.8999859.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkS169P_Eeo