GERRY RAFFERTY - 'Baker Street' Singer Passes
January 4, 2011, 13 years ago
According to Billboard.com, GERRY RAFFERTY, who had Top 10 success with STEALERS WHEEL's 'Stuck In The Middle' and his own 'Baker Street', died on Tuesday in London from liver failure after a long battle with alcoholism. The Scottish-born singer and songwriter had reportedly been hospitalized during November in Dorset, England, with a grim prognosis. He was taken off life support and showed some improvement until this week. He was 63.
The Guardian says that the Scot was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, and played with BILLY CONNOLLY's folk outfit the HUMBLEBUMS, and co-founded the soft-rock group Stealer's Wheel, before enjoying a successful solo career. Baker Street, released in 1978, was still netting him £80,000 a year more than 30 years later.
Rafferty endured battles with the music industry – once taking three years to disentangle contracts – and a problem with alcohol.
In recent years, he was better known for alcohol-fuelled incidents, apparent disappearances and poor health than for his music. His last album, Another World, was released in 2000.
