Gerry Rafferty dies, aged 63

The Scottish singer and songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died following an illness. He was 63.

The Scottish singer and songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died following an illness. He was 63.

The Paisley-born musician first tasted success with his 1972 hit Stuck in the Middle With You with his band Stealers Wheel.

He won international acclaim in 1978 with the song Baker Street which reached number 3 in the UK charts and number 2 in the US. The song earned him an estimated £80,000 per year in royalties up to his death.

The song was recognised by musicians rights organisation the BMI at an awards ceremony London last October, for being played over 5 million times worldwide.

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Stuck in the Middle With You came to prominence again in 1992 when it featured in Quentin Tarantino's ground-breaking film Resevoir Dogs.

Rafferty, who battled alcoholism for many years, was admitted to hospital in Bournemouth in November with suspected liver failure.

He is survived by daughter Martha, granddaughter Celia, and his brother Jim.

Éanna Ó Caollaí

Éanna Ó Caollaí

Iriseoir agus Eagarthóir Gaeilge An Irish Times. Éanna Ó Caollaí is The Irish Times' Irish Language Editor, editor of The Irish Times Student Hub, and Education Supplements editor.