Born and raised in Paisley near Glasgow, after an early attempt at musical success in local group Mavericks failed, Rafferty quit to join Billy Connolly in 1970's folk outfit The Humblebums; he and Connolly effectively becoming a duo for the band's second and third records The New Humblebums and Open Up The Door. Both strong personalities, as tensions grew they disbanded with Rafferty often credited with encouraging Connolly to pursue the stand-up comedy route that would later see him become a household name.
Staying with the same label Transatlantic, Rafferty released his first solo album Can I Have My Money Back? It established him as a solo singer-songwriter, garnering some critical praise if not commercial breakthrough. Rejoining his friend from the Mavericks days, Joe Egan, they formed Stealers Wheel and his first big hit followed in 1972 with single Stuck In The Middle With You becoming a perennial radio staple ever since, also being reprised over twenty years later by Director Quentin Tarantino who featured in his film Reservoir Dogs , introducing it to fresh ears and a younger audience, hitherto unaware of his songwriting.
Album Stealers Wheel also fared well in the U.S., however increasing commitments and label specified personnel meant it wasn't long before Rafferty opted out. Persuaded briefly back, with the use of session men he and Egan continued, releasing 1974 album Ferguslie Park and achieving another, albeit smaller, hit with Star before they disbanded ahead of the band's final album, possibly disillusioned upon learning that they would be receiving far less royalties than had been expected from.
Although not by any account a motivational force for him, in fact by as the stories told by many attest it was perhaps the opposite, financial success would not remain alien to Rafferty forever. Eventually excused of the Stealers Wheel contractual ties he collected himself, putting together 1978's City To City solo album for relatively modest sums. Any worries about future income could be forgotten upon it's release as single Baker Street became an overnight success making him a millionaire in very short time. Several chart hits followed with next album Night Owl and whilst later albums arrived, many showcasing Gerry's unique soft and sardonic style of lyrical introspection, it is the hushed tones of Baker Street punctuated by the instantly recognisable saxophone solo (not played by television presenter Bob Holness as one urban myth claimed) coupled with the Stealers' Stuck In The Middle With You that remain his most recognisable moments to most.
He is survived by daughter Martha, granddaughter Celia, and his brother Jim.
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