Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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RAFFERTY, Gerry

(b 16 April 1947, Paisley, Scotland; d 4 January 2011, Dorset, England) Folk-rock singer-songwriter, guitarist. He worked with future comedian Billy Connolly in the Humblebums (Humblebums and Open The Door '69-70); when they split he made an album Can I Have My Money Back '71 (some say still his best), then formed Stealer's Wheel with folksinger Rab Noakes, who soon bowed out. The act centred around Rafferty and vocalist/keyboardist/co-writer Joe Egan. Stealers Wheel '73 included their best-known song 'Stuck In The Middle With You' (no. 6 UK, 2 USA), Ferguslie Park '74 included 'Star' (top 30 USA), both produced by Leiber and Stoller. They had no regular band, which inhibited touring; there was friction with producers and Right Or Wrong '75 came out after they'd split.

He stayed home in Scotland sorting out legal problems, went solo with City To City '78, which critics like to pan but the public made a no. 1 LP USA, 'Baker Street' a no. 2 single (famous saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft). Night Owl '79 was top 30, Snakes And Ladders '80 did less well, Sleepwalking '82 did not chart. He produced an album for Richard and Linda Thompson '82 (not then released), sang on one track on Mark Knopfler's Local Hero '83. His first album in five years was North And South '88 with long-time colleague Jerry Donahue on guitar, Irish piper Davy Spillane, Alan Clark (from Dire Straits) on piano: later on Avalanche USA, as were On A Wing And A Prayer and Over My Head (with Noakes). 'Stuck In The Middle With You' had a new generation of fans after it was heard in the soundtrack of Quentin Tarentino's hit movie Reservoir Dogs '92.

Despite the success of his songs, Rafferty suffered from depression, refused at his peak to tour the USA or with Eric Clapton or Paul McCartney, and became an alcoholic.