Scottish Catholic Observer

The funeral Mass of famed Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Rafferty was celebrated this morning at St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley.

Mr Rafferty died at his home in Dorset on January 4 after a long illness. He had been admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in November 2010 with suspected liver failure.

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr John Tormey who said: “As a singer/songwriter, Gerry Rafferty spoke and sang from the heart about real things. There was a spiritual dimension to his music—he was a very deep thinker and had great insight into human nature. People respect him for being so authentic. As a man, he was exceptionally kind, genuine and nice with great humanity.”

Mr Rafferty’s friend, playwright and artist John Byrne, gave a tribute during the service.

“He had hundreds and hundreds of wonderful, brilliant and marvellous songs. He was very, very funny, Gerard. He was a very serious and very thoughtful person,” he said.

The Mass was followed by a private cremation.

The Paisley-born musician’s career began in the 1960s performing alongside Billy Connolly as folk duo The Humblebums. He went on to success with rock band Stealers Wheel before embarking on a solo career in the late 1970s. His song Baker Street was a top-three hit in the UK and the US, and has gone on to be one of the best-known rock songs of that decade.

He went on to produce the song Letter from America, the hit that established the career of Scottish band The Proclaimers, Charlie and Craig Reid. The duo and First Minister Alex Salmond were among hundreds of mourners who turned out to pay their last respects the singer this morning.

Mr Rafferty is survived by daughter Martha, granddaughter Celia, and brother, Jim.