Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty was mourned by The Proclaimers were among the hundreds who gathered to bid farewell to legendary musician, who was buried today.
Rafferty died on January 4, aged 63, after long battle with liver cancer and alcoholism.
He is best known for his 1978 hit song Baker Street and 1972 tune Stuck In The Middle With You which enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after featuring in Quentin Tarantino’s cult film Reservoir Dogs.
The funeral service for Gerry Rafferty, held at St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley, Renfrewshire was attended by pop artists and industry insiders.
The Proclaimers became close to Rafferty when he helped them work on their song Letter From America.
Of Rafferty’s influence, The Proclaimers Charlie Reid said: “He became someone who for a while was at the absolute top of the commercial tree. He was very well thought of across the music business at that time in the late 1980s in Britain, and he was very highly respected by a lot of people at record companies for his sheer musicality.”
Rafferty started out as a busker before joining comedian Billy Connolly’s Glaswegian folk group The Humblebums in the late 60s.
The two were close friends at the time of Rafferty’s death, however Connolly was unable to attend the funeral due to work commitments in Australia.
Rafferty is survived by his daughter Martha, granddaughter Celia and his brother Jim.
