Gerry Rafferty, singer of 'Baker Street' and 'Stuck in the Middle With You,' dead at 63

Associated Press
January 4, 2011

LONDON - Gerry Rafferty, the Scottish singer-songwriter behind hit songs "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle With You," has died. He was 63.

Rafferty's agent Paul Charles confirmed Tuesday that his client had passed away following a long illness, but said he had no additional information on how or where he had died.

Rafferty's classic record "Baker Street" — renowned worldwide for its distinctive haunting saxophone solo — climbed to No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S. music charts in 1978. It still achieves considerable airplay on radio stations.

The singer also recorded "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1972 while performing as part of the Scottish folk-rock band Stealers Wheel. The ode — or mocking tribute_ to Bob Dylan's raspy voice grew new wings in film maker Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs," and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

(More here. TM Comment: What a strange career. He put out an all-time classic pop album in "City to City," and then never hit that level again. BTW, the haunting sax solo was by Raphael Ravenscroft, who was paid with a check that bounced.)