Baker Street saxophone player dies following heart attack

Raphael Ravenscroft died following a suspected heart attack early on Sunday, it has now been revealed.

14:22 21 October 2014

Raphael Ravenscroft, the musician behind one of the most recognizable saxophone solos ever (on Gerry Rafferty’s hit Baker Street), has died following a suspected heart attack early on Sunday. The celebrated star was 60. 

 

In an interview from 2011, Ravenscroft said that the song that made him famous irritated him. 

 

"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."

 

Ravenscroft has appeared on one disco album in 1976 before he emerged as one of pop-rock’s most prominent saxophonists. His instrumental break helped the track zoom to number three in the UK charts and number two in the United States.

 

The musician worked with music icons including Abba, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, and more recently with pop artists Daft Punk and Duffy. 

 

In 1990, he worked as a tutor of music at York College, published a successful instruction book – The Complete Saxophone Player. 

 

In 2011, he recorded a single entitled Forgiveness for the funeral of Rafferty. The tune mixed the voices of Grammy-nominated choir Tenebrae with his iconic sax work.