Raf Ravenscroft Sax Player Rip Dies Age 60

[in a mo]

Raf Ravenscroft has died age 60 well known for the sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's Million Seller Baker Street,he also was a well sought after session musician.
I had the pleasure of meeting him just before he was due to play with Gerry Rafferty at The Colston Hall in Bristol, a very nice man who was only to happy to spend some time listening to me telling him how excited I was to see the band ,I was actually waiting to speak with Gerry Rafferty but he was late bonus for me .RIP. Yet another Gone to the Great Gig In The Sky.

[janbee]

One of the best intros on Baker St. Seemingly he was paid £27 for that job and the cheque bounced !!

[Baldric]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1373768.html

[Baldric]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1373613.html

[jourdain2]

Heard the news item on R4 - apparantly he hated hearing the riff on 'Baker St', he thought he was out of tune! Me, I think it has become part of everyone's musical appreciation. As you say - gone to the Great Gig. RIP

[Quizmonster]

I can't remember which newspaper's announcement of his death contained the information that he was paid £27.00 for the one-off session and that the cheque bounced! It may well be that, in the end, he actually got nothing for his performance!

[in a mo]

QuizmonsterThe story regarding the £27 payment might well be true but the reason the money was never an issue was on the back of Baker Street "Solo" he Raf was then Booked and played played on the session for the album Snakes and Ladders,he was also part of the Touring band ,so for the sake of falling out about £27 he managed to obtain further work with Gerry and major session work with Pink Floyd ,Daft Punk and many more ,he also had an album deal and a single that gained many radio plays although never really made it.
Incidentally the Solo on Baker Street was written for a Piano.
Just as a point of interest I am the biggest Gerry Rafferty Fan ever since The Humblebums,although when I first heard Baker Street I did not like it at all .

[paddywak]

R.I.P. Raf,you left the world one of the most iconic solos in modern music,

[Quizmonster]

I'm sure what you say, In a Mo, is totally correct, but it would still be a major injustice if Raf remained unpaid for the Baker Street performance itself! Mind you, there must be many instances of session musicians who actually 'made' a record great but received little or no recognition for having done so.

[in a mo]

Quizmonster I am trying to investigate the facts to this story I will post when I have an answer,I am sure someone else will know the details.
I would imagine that the record company paid all of the bills ,I suppose that it is not beyond the bounds of possibility if Raf had not been paid the family could still claim + interest ,I wonder if The Cheque is still about.