R.I.P. Gerry Rafferty

[Precious Doll]

Troubled Baker Street star Gerry Rafferty dead

January 5, 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died at the age of 63, his agent has confirmed.

Rafferty, 63, whose most famous work was the 1978 hit Baker Street, died following a long illness.

His agent Paul Charles confirmed today that Rafferty had passed away.

The singer - who fought a long battle with alcoholism - died peacefully on Tuesday morning at his home in Bournemouth, in England's southwest, with his daughter Martha by his side, The Guardian and The Sun newspapers reported on their websites.

Rafferty was also a member of the band Stealers Wheel with whom he secured another huge hit in 1972 with Stuck in the Middle With You.

The song underwent a renaissance after being featured in Quentin Tarantino's hit movie Reservoir Dogs in the early 1990s.

Baker Street, with its distinctive saxophone solo, reached number three in the UK charts and no two in the US.

Rafferty cut his teeth as a busker, and also appeared with Billy Connolly's folk group the Humblebums.

Despite his earlier success Rafferty suffered from well-documented problems with alcohol.

He had also endured professional disputes during his career, most notably a long-running contract disagreement with his former band Stealers Wheel.