Gerry Rafferty

1947 -

Musician. Born in Paisley, Rafferty as educated at St. Mirin's Academy in the town, alongside Joe Egan (b. 1946). Rafferty was a member of the Humblebums with Billy Connolly (b.1942), who became better known as a comedian. Rafferty then joined Egan in various bands, including The Sensors and The Mavericks, before the pair found success with the folk-rock band Stealers Wheel which they founded in 1972. Their song Stuck in the Middle With You reached the Top Ten in the UK and the USA in 1973. Rafferty went on to further success as a solo artist and is perhaps best-known for his song Baker Street (1978), with its remarkable saxophone riff, which reached No.2 in the US charts and No.3 in the UK. A series of albums followed; Night Owl (1979), Snakes and Ladders (1980), Sleepwalking (1982) and North and South (1988), with other notable hits including Right Down the Line (1978) and Don't Give Up On Me (1992).

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