Gerry Rafferty

Scottish guitarist, singer and songwriter, born 16th April 1947, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland; died at the age of 63 on 4th January 2011 at his daughter's home in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, UK (liver and kidney problems). He was brother of [a=Jim Rafferty].

Rafferty was best known for his solo hits "[url=https://www.discogs.com/master/99113-Gerry-Rafferty-Baker-Street]Baker Street[/url]", "[url=https://www.discogs.com/master/174947-Gerry-Rafferty-Right-Down-The-Line]Right Down the Line[/url]" and, with the band [a258995], "[url=https://www.discogs.com/master/99112-Stealers-Wheel-Stuck-In-The-Middle]Stuck in the Middle[/url]".

Born into a working-class family in Paisley (Scotland), his mother taught him both Irish and Scottish folk songs as a boy; later, he was influenced by the music of The Beatles and Bob Dylan. He joined the folk-pop band [a1595585] - whose line-up included [a327746] - in 1969, but left in 1971 and recorded his first solo album "[url=https://www.discogs.com/master/54287-Gerry-Rafferty-Can-I-Have-My-Money-Back]Can I Have My Money Back[/url]". Rafferty and [a610202] formed the group Stealers Wheel in 1972, producing several hits. In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, "[url=https://www.discogs.com/master/54294-Gerry-Rafferty-City-To-City]City to City[/url]", which includes "Baker Street", his most popular song and a radio mainstay.