Neither fame nor fortune mattered to him. Rafferty sang the Mark Knopfler-penned song "The Way It Always Starts" (1983) on the soundtrack of the film Local Hero. [4], Rafferty grew up in a council house in the town's Ferguslie Park, in Underwood Lane, and was educated at St Mirin's Academy. But just seven months after his tragic death, aged . His childhood sweetheart, Carla Ventilla, divorced him after 20 years of marriage in 1990. "[38], In 2008, Rafferty moved away from California and briefly rented a home in Ireland, where his drinking soon became a problem again. We all had to sing and take our turn round the table at Christmas. [34] According to Michael Gray, Rafferty's personal manager at the height of his success, he turned down many opportunities to work with other artists:[38] " he retained a healthy scepticism not just about the music industry but about society, money and politics in general. [15] Twenty years later, the song was used prominently in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs; Rafferty refused to grant permission for its re-release. BILLY Connolly breaks down as he remembers the final time he shared a joke with his friend and singing partner Gerry Rafferty. Although he was an intense personality for many industry execs, he was one of Britains most treasured musicians. By the late '60s, Rafferty had already played . [45], Another World, released in 2000, was originally available only via direct order from his website,[46] but since 2003 has been available on the Hypertension label. Martha went into the studio with vocal recordings by her father in various stages of completion. He spent his last years with fiance Enzina Fuschini, who helped him through some of his darkest hours of alcoholism. [18] The album sold over 5.5million copies, toppling the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the US on 8 July 1978. He was met with the full showbiz trappings, a big limo from the airport, a suite on Central Park, invited to all the parties. Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died at the age of 63 after suffering a long illness. Byrne was also responsible for one of Rafferty's most prized possessions: a hand-painted Martin acoustic guitar bearing his portrait and the name 'Gerry Rafferty', which features in many photographs of the singer. MARTHA RAFFERTY revealed she still finds it too painful to listen to Baker Street - her late father Gerry's most famous song. Updated 16:25, 23 NOV 2012. According to Murphy, interviewed a decade later: "Gerry had made three albums on the trot and I think he was pretty jaded at that time and feeling the pressure and he just thought, 'Well, I'll try another tack,' which is understandable". [79], In October 2013, Peter Cameron released a biography of Rafferty entitled Stuck in the Middle with Gerry Rafferty, published by the independent publisher Linn. Then Capitol records made a similar offer. And whatll happen is, youll lose your audience. I've done . It included three tracks co-written with Rafferty's brother Jim, also a singer-songwriter, who had been signed to Decca Records in the 1970s. The scorecard of one of British musics most treasured artists and saddest losses has just undergone a recount. He joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums (of which Billy Connolly was a member) in 1969. did gerry rafferty have a glass eye? "Days Gone Down" reached No. It has a rolling, smooth groove with a synthesizer and saxophone peaks. He became more of a recluse, struggling deeply with depression after the death of his brother in 1995. In all, Mr. Rafferty sold more than 10 million albums over three decades. One more face in a palace of mirrors. Gerry had a glass eye - I didn't know this until Billy told me this story - and they'd wait until it was really pouring and they'd go out and all the old girls would put up their umbrellas. So its probably the most personal, in a way.. Gerry became someone else, and it was alcohol that took him over. And heres five grand, in cash, to help you.. He is currently working on the official documentary on the life of Chuck Berry. So I had to get on to [A&M co-founder] Jerry Moss and say, Look: Ive been told that hes never going to record for you again and I need to get him off the label. It was later reported that Fuschini had lost her case and 75,000 legal costs were awarded against her. Featuring 18 tracks, the album contains six new recordings, covers of Christmas carols, plus also some traditional songs that had previously been available on the Gerry Rafferty website. According to Michael Gray, the singer's personal manager in the early 1980s: "It never occurred to me in all the time I knew him that he was heading for alcoholism. Stealers Wheel The A&M Years (opens in new tab) 3CD boxset is out now on Caroline International. by Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. Gordon Laurie, director of the housing association behind the project, commented: "It is a fitting tribute to a brilliant musician who lives on through his music. Rafferty recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back?, with Hugh Murphy, a staff producer working for the label. [5][11][38] In 1987, Rafferty and Murphy co-produced The Proclaimers first UK hit single "Letter from America". However, he explained in an interview, "But there was never anything else for me but music. Jon Brewer now a successful documentary maker (opens in new tab) managed Rafferty through his most successful period before their relationship ended in acrimony. 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. You can take the boy out of Paisley but you can't take Paisley out the boy! There was change too in the songs. The original line-up recorded Stealers Wheel (October 1972 . [60] According to Rafferty's ex-wife Carla: "There was no hope. Martha witnessed all too closely how her fathers success was a sword with sharp edges. [50], After leaving St Thomas' Hospital, and while claiming he was in Tuscany, he was moving from one London hotel to another. Songs like 'She Moves Through the Fair', which my mother sings beautifully. A lot of the musicians hed worked with over the years remembered recording various parts of the tracks. [2] A son of Joseph and Mary (Skeffington) Rafferty,[3] he had two brothers, Jim and Joe (died 1988). 17 in the US. It must be a reason for you acting this way. The duo had a silly Saturday ritual in their hometown of Glasgow. One more dream but its looking okay. But I think he drank for specific reasons, which was in connection with his mental health. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [50], Rafferty's death in January 2011 rekindled interest in the singer's work. I wrote to Martin Wyatt at Anchor records and they said, We really want this, this record is fantastic, its a hit record. "They came back with a bigger offer," says Brewer, "and I said, I'll tell you what we'll do. Gerry Rafferty, the singer who wrote the 1978 hit Baker Street, is living in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend, after his disappearance from St Thomas' hospital in. In his interview with Colin Irwin, Rafferty disputed this and said that Ravenscroft had been his second choice to play the saxophone solo, after Pete Zorn, who was unavailable: "The only confusion at the time that I didnt enjoy too much was the fact that a lot of people believed that the line was written by Raphael Ravenscroft, the sax player, but it was my line. And that all he wanted to do was write songs for his daughter., "I said, Right. [73], Newspapers printed lengthy obituaries for the singer; in The Guardian, Michael Gray charted Rafferty's long downward spiral into alcoholism,[38] while a full-page obituary in The Times summarised his career more positively: "As well as being a singer of considerable talent who at one time had the pop world at his feet, Gerry Rafferty was also a consummate songwriter, blessed with sensitivity and an enviable melodic flair that at its best recalled Paul McCartney. According to Billboard, Rafferty had five charting songs on the adult contemporary 100. Bonnie Raitt recorded a reggae treatment of "Right Down the Line" for her Slipstream album released 10 April 2012. That talent was repeatedly endorsed over the years by the likes of John Peel, Paul McCartney and Paul Simon, who expressed the wish that hed written Gerrys first hit in his days with the excellent Scottish band Stealers Wheel, Stuck In The Middle With You. Not for nothing was Gerald 'Gerry' Rafferty known as the master of rock 'n' roll self-destruction. After being taken off life support, Rafferty rallied for a short time, and doctors thought that he might recover. So he took a big step back and pulled out of his tour, much to the frustration of his management and his record company, Im sure., It was, she believes, an act of self-preservation. "[66][67] The album, titled Life Goes On, was released in November 2009. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. ", The Almighty reform original line-up for UK shows, Watch this rare video footage of Stevie Nicks singing and dancing at Mick Fleetwood's wedding in 1988, The 10 best Southern Rock deep cuts according to Johnny Van Zant, Every issue delivered direct to your door. Rafferty and Fuschini rented a large home together in Upton, near Poole. In 1966, Rafferty and Egan were members of the band the Fifth Column. He died many years later in a terrible state. The singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty who died last Tuesday from liver disease aged 63 had been "haunted by his greatest hit". Rafferty's guitarist Hugh Burns, multi-instrumentalist Graham Preskett[fr] and saxophonist Mel Collins, were also featured. "[78], In January 2013, BBC Radio 2 re-broadcast their 2012 programme "Bring It All Home Gerry Rafferty Remembered", which had been recorded live at Celtic Connections in Glasgow and was presented by Ricky Ross. [60], In November 2010, Rafferty was admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was put on a life-support machine and treated for multiple organ failure. Rafferty and Ventilla divorced in 1990. The track appeared on Dickson's albums Don't Think Twice It's All Right (1992) and The Barbara Dickson Collection (2006).[41]. He has a flight to catch. The duo had a silly Saturday ritual in their hometown of Glasgow. So theyd ship them, get big warehouses, put them in there. This ballad perfectly portrayed the vibes as we faced a new decadesexy, moody, soft yet bold. I'm travelin' this long road to be with you. He continued composing and recording music until his last album release in 2009, called Life Goes On. Gerry's fantastic (doubled) lead vocal, is something I'm going back to study for myself (I already had just planned to do so, right before this thread came up again). Gerry Rafferty was one of Scotland's most gifted singer-songwriters. And what a tragedy, but no one chooses the way they die. I really wanted this album to reflect what Id grown up hearing, which was him with the guitar or the piano, singing, without any other accompaniment, concludes Martha. Life in this local lane suited him well. And thats when the fun started, says Brewer. From knee high, Rafferty would sing these standards, three-part harmonising with his elder siblings, Jim and Joe. "[38] His next album, North and South, was released in 1988. His career high came in the 1970s and included the anthemic Baker Street and Stuck in the Middle . But a delightful moment occurred when I got to 'Lonesome Polecat'. [30], The lyrics of "Baker Street" reflected Rafferty's disenchantment with certain elements of the music industry. Why won't you talk to me? I totally understand., The same scene play out at Island records: Gerry is left alone with owner Chris Blackwell and afterwards Blackwell collars Brewer and says, I would rather sign Gary Glitter than that man! [27] But it earned him another 1.5million, selling around three million copies in Europe and America. The pair were in folk . [38] In the late 1980s, Rafferty had told journalist Colin Irwin "I was always very conscious about keeping a low profile because that's the way I like to go about it. In a statement released following her father's death, Martha Rafferty said, "My dad was a fighter and he fought until the very end. He sought treatment and went into detox many times, at these horrendous clinics that exist. The Herald. [69] Rafferty died of liver failure at the home of his daughter Martha in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 4 January 2011, at the age of 63. Capitol called me at one point and said, Were going to give him 5 million. And he had a drinking habit. Gerry Raffertys former manager Jon Brewer recalls what it was like managing the Baker Street star in the wheeling-dealing 70s the age of chart-fixing, payola and big money. Now there are some hugely welcome additions to that songbook. I Can't Stop Now - (featuring Jimmy Tagford / Terry Cox / Barry Dransfield / Bernie Holland) 9. Oh no no no no no no no. According to his former manager Jon Brewer, City to City was rejected by several record label executives because of Raffertys rudeness. Rafferty got a good dose of touring when he played with The Humblebums and briefly with Stealers Wheel. The "80,000" figure has been widely repeated in newspaper articles ever since. But he went back to the UK, going through severe drinking binges in high-end hotels, and drawing much unwanted press. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. He was in self-destruct mode. Joel Whitburn, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th Edition)", p. 493. Joseph Rafferty died when Gerry was just sixteen, but if he bequeathed anything to his last-born son it was an affinity for songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition. Brewer was a big fan of Stealers Wheel and met Rafferty in London. Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1947, the son of a Scottish mother and an Irish father. "[34] It was ironic that Raffertya lover and collector of religious icons, who would later name one of his publishing companies "Icon Music"[54]was also an iconoclast. 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