39 Facts About Gerry Rafferty

Gerald Rafferty was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician and record producer.

Gerry Rafferty was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973.

Gerry Rafferty was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Gerry Rafferty's mother taught him both Irish and Scottish folk songs when he was a boy; later, he was influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Gerry Rafferty joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums in 1969.

Gerry Rafferty was born in 1947 into a working-class family of Irish Catholic origin in Underwood Lane in Paisley, a son and grandson of coal miners.

Gerry Rafferty grew up in a council house in the town's Ferguslie Park, in Underwood Lane, and was educated at St Mirin's Academy.

Gerry Rafferty's Irish-born father, an alcoholic, was a miner and lorry driver who died when Rafferty was 16.

Gerry Rafferty learned both Irish and Scottish folk songs as a boy.

Heavily influenced by folk music and the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, Gerry Rafferty started to write his own material.

Gerry Rafferty then worked in a butcher's shop, as a civil service clerk, and in a shoe shop.

In 1969, Gerry Rafferty became the third member of a folk-pop group, the Humblebums, along with comedian Billy Connolly and Tam Harvey.

Once Gerry Rafferty decided to look in the Berlin telephone directory to see if any Hitlers were listed.

Twenty years later, the song was used prominently in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs; Gerry Rafferty refused to grant permission for its re-release.

Legal issues after the break-up of Stealers Wheel meant that, for three years, Gerry Rafferty was unable to release any material.

Gerry Rafferty just blew what he was told by the person who did write it, Gerry Rafferty.

The audible proof is there from the demos that Gerry Rafferty himself created the riff and placed it within the song's structure exactly where it ended up.

Gerry Rafferty never let "Baker Street" be used for advertising, despite lucrative offers.

Gerry Rafferty's song "Baker Street" was about how uncomfortable he felt in the star system, and what do you know, it was a giant world hit.

Gerry Rafferty sang the Mark Knopfler-penned song "The Way It Always Starts" on the soundtrack of the film Local Hero.

Gerry Rafferty released two further albums in the 1990s in what musician Tom Robinson later described as "a major return to form".

Gerry Rafferty recorded a new version of his Humblebums song "Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway" on the album Over My Head.

Gerry Rafferty maintained his enthusiasm for this new approach to recording for the next three years.

On 3 September 2021 Parlophone UK released Rest in Blue, an album on which Martha Gerry Rafferty completed a project started by her father from demos left by Gerry Rafferty.

Gerry Rafferty drew a clear distinction between the artistic integrity of a musician, on the one hand, and the music industry's need to create celebrities and sell products, on the other.

Gerry Rafferty's background was soaked in Scottish socialism and poverty, his mind sharp and his personality acerbic, and he wasn't going to be dazzled by the glamour of success.

Gerry Rafferty never changed his mind about the music business; if anything, his views hardened.

In 1995, Gerry Rafferty was deeply affected by the death of his older brother Joseph, an event from which family and friends said he never fully recovered.

In 2008, Gerry Rafferty moved away from California and briefly rented a home in Ireland, where his drinking soon became a problem again.

In person, Mr Gerry Rafferty was a really nice man, he kept himself to himself and didn't bother the other guests but he was clearly on a downward spiral.

The newspaper Scotland on Sunday reported that Gerry Rafferty had been asked to leave the hotel and had then checked himself into St Thomas' Hospital suffering from a chronic liver condition, brought on by heavy drinking.

On 17 February 2009, The Guardian reported that Gerry Rafferty was in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend.

In November 2010, Gerry Rafferty was admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was put on a life-support machine and treated for multiple organ failure.

Gerry Rafferty died of liver failure at the home of his daughter Martha in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 4 January 2011.

Gerry Rafferty's remains were then cremated at the Woodside Crematorium in Paisley and his ashes scattered on Iona.

Gerry Rafferty is survived by his daughter Martha, granddaughter Celia, and brother Jim.

Gerry Rafferty had apparently not changed his will after meeting Enzina Fuschini in 2008 and left her nothing.

Gerry Rafferty did it really well and he was respected in both camps.

Gerry Rafferty was one of the most talented musicians and singers I ever knew but he completely underestimated his own talent.