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Baker Street saxophone player Raphael Ravenscroft dies | Baker Street saxophone player Raphael Ravenscroft dies |
(35 minutes later) | |
The musician behind one of the most recognisable saxophone solos - on Gerry Rafferty's hit Baker Street - has died. | The musician behind one of the most recognisable saxophone solos - on Gerry Rafferty's hit Baker Street - has died. |
Raphael Ravenscroft, 60, who found fame almost overnight following the release of the 1978 track, died following a suspected heart attack early on Sunday. | Raphael Ravenscroft, 60, who found fame almost overnight following the release of the 1978 track, died following a suspected heart attack early on Sunday. |
He was reportedly paid only £27 for the session with a cheque that bounced while the song is said to have earned Rafferty £80,000 a year in royalties. | He was reportedly paid only £27 for the session with a cheque that bounced while the song is said to have earned Rafferty £80,000 a year in royalties. |
In a radio interview in 2011, Ravenscroft said the song annoyed him. | In a radio interview in 2011, Ravenscroft said the song annoyed him. |
"I'm irritated because it's out of tune," he said. | "I'm irritated because it's out of tune," he said. |
"Yeah, it's flat. By enough of a degree that it irritates me at best." | "Yeah, it's flat. By enough of a degree that it irritates me at best." |
Ravenscroft, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, had already appeared on one disco album by Maxine Nightingale, Right Back Where We Started From, in 1976, as an arranger but emerged as one of pop-rock's most prominent saxophonists. | |
Baker Street reached number three in the UK charts and number two in the US. | Baker Street reached number three in the UK charts and number two in the US. |
Its famous solo became wrongly attributed to the late Bob Holness, host of TV quiz show Blockbusters, with radio presenters Stuart Maconie and Tommy Boyd - as well as Ravenscroft himself - claiming responsibility for the false story. | Its famous solo became wrongly attributed to the late Bob Holness, host of TV quiz show Blockbusters, with radio presenters Stuart Maconie and Tommy Boyd - as well as Ravenscroft himself - claiming responsibility for the false story. |
Ravenscroft, who lived in Exeter, Devon, went on to work with music icons such as Pink Floyd, Abba and Marvin Gaye, and more recently worked as a session musician for pop artists Daft Punk and Duffy. | |
In 1990 Ravenscroft, also a former tutor of music at York College, published a successful instruction book, The Complete Saxophone Player. | In 1990 Ravenscroft, also a former tutor of music at York College, published a successful instruction book, The Complete Saxophone Player. |
In 2011, he recorded a tribute to commemorate the funeral of Rafferty called Forgiveness, which combined his saxophone playing with the voices of Grammy-nominated choir Tenebrae. | In 2011, he recorded a tribute to commemorate the funeral of Rafferty called Forgiveness, which combined his saxophone playing with the voices of Grammy-nominated choir Tenebrae. |
This summer he organised a charity gala concert in memory of a local schoolgirl who died after falling from a wall. | This summer he organised a charity gala concert in memory of a local schoolgirl who died after falling from a wall. |