Singer Gerry "Baker Street" Rafferty Seriously Ill With Kidney Failure

[Amerigo Vespucci]

'Baker Street' Singer Gerry Rafferty Seriously Ill With Kidney Failure

Posted on Nov 10th 2010 6:45AM by Julian Marszalek

http://www.spinner.com/2010/11/10/gerry-rafferty-baker-street-kidney-failure/



Singer Gerry Rafferty is reportedly fighting for his life after suffering kidney failure. The 63-year-old singer was put on a life support machine five days ago after being admitted to hospital. Doctors told his fiancee Enzina Fischini that Rafferty -- who has struggled with alcoholism -- had little chance of survival but the singer's condition improved when the life support machine was switched off.

The singer -- best known for his solo hit 'Baker Street' -- is being treated in a hospital in Bournemouth. Doctors are hoping to transfer him to London once his condition stabilises. Once there, he'll be placed under the guidance of Professor Roger Williams. Williams oversaw the late footballer George Best's liver transplant in 2002.

Enzina told The Sun, "Gerry is my best friend. He's strong and I'm praying he pulls through."

Rafferty's early career kicked off with the Humblebums -- a band formed with a pre-fame Billy Connolly -- before forming Steeler's Wheel in 1972 with old school friend Joe Egan. They scored a massive hit with 'Stuck in the Middle With You' which subsequently reached a new generation of music fan when it was used in the notorious ear-slicing scene in Quentin Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs' in 1992.

[WhiteTara]

1. good luck Gerry!

I've always liked his music.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Tragic

Sincerely hope he recovers.

[Rowdyboy]

3. "Baker Street" and "Right Down the Line" both remind me of better days....

How odd it is to think of the late 1970's as "better days". Guess you just had to be there

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. Yep...it's all relative.

I have a mix CD in the car of 80s music..."Everywhere I Go" by The Call, "Red Skies" by The Fixx, that kind of stuff...and it takes me back to a time I "think" was better, even though I know it had its own share of strife.

:toast:

[TheDebbieDee]

7. I know Baker Street, but I didn't know he did Right Down the Line, too.

You know guys, Art Buchwald (writer/columnist) survived quite a while and had a great Bon Voyage Party for several months before his death from

[a kennedy]

4. this is sad news.....

my husband and I were just getting to know each other when Baker Street was popular........ very sad news indeed.

[HardWorkingDem]

6. Any updates?

Hope he is doing better...

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. Haven't seen any since posting the story...

...but if I do I'll post an update.

:toast:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

9. He's passed away...thread in the Lounge:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9591648&mesg_id=9591648

R.I.P. Gerry.

[mackerel]

10. Soft rock to be sure but I'll take it over

all this autotuned crap they play today.

Raisin' a pint to ya Gerry.