Finbar Furey leads tributes to the late singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty

THE late singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty has been described as “oozing with groove” by his close friend, Finbar Furey.

The Irish folk singer yesterday led tributes from a range of music stars to the Scottish-born musician, best known for his 1978 mega-hit, Baker Street, with its signature saxophone solo, who died on Tuesday.

Rafferty, 63, who passed away peacefully at his home in Bournemouth following a long battle with alcoholism, is reputed to have earned £80,000 per annum in royalties alone for the song which came from his first solo album, City to City.