Died On This Date (Otober 19, 2014) Raphael Ravenscroft / Provided Iconic Sax Solo On “Baker Street”
themusicsover Raphael Ravenscroft
June 4, 1954 – October 19, 2014
Raphael Ravenscroft was an in-demand session musician whose saxophone can be heard on albums by Robert Plant, Daft Punk, Mike Oldfield, Duffy, and Pink Floyd to name just a few. He most famously provided the iconic sax parts for Gerry Rafferty‘s 1978 hit single, “Baker Street.” The song reached #2 on the US charts, #1 in Canada and Australia, and #3 in the UK. In 2010, BMI recognized the it for having been played more than 5 million times around the world. Throughout his career, Ravenscroft also wrote several regarded saxophone instruction books. He also composed music for numerous major advertising campaigns. Ravenscroft semi-retired in 2012 due to health issues and died from a suspected heart attack on October 19, 2014. He was 60.
Paul Revere was the founder, keyboardist and iconic face of late ’60s/early ’70s rock and roll band, Paul Revere & the Raiders. Formed in Boise, Idaho in 1958 as the Downbeats (with Mark Lindsay on lead vocals), the band scored its first regional hit in 1961 with 
Jimi Jamison is perhaps best remembered as a lead singer of ’80s rock band Survivor. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Jamison began singing and playing the guitar and piano as a child. By the time he hit middle school, he was already playing in a band. During the early ’80s, Jamison became the lead singer of a band called Cobra, and a few years later, he was invited to front Survivor after original lead vocalist (and “Eye Of The Tiger” singer) Dave Bickler left due to serious issues with his vocal cords. Jamison’s first recording with the group was the hit, “The Moment of Truth,” for the Karate Kid soundtrack. That was quickly followed by the Vital Signs album which went Platinum and reached #16 on the US album charts. The album spawned the hits, “High On You,” “The Search Is Over,” and “I Can’t Hold Back.” Its follow-up, When Seconds Count, also cracked the Top 50 on the US album charts powered by several radio-friendly pop-rockers. The list of hit songs that Jamison sang lead on include “Burning Heart” from the Rocky IV soundtrack, and “I’m Always Here,” the theme song of the popular Baywatch television series. He was also an in-demand session singer, having recorded with the likes of Joe Walsh and ZZ Top, whose Billy Gibbons often referred to him as the fourth member of the group. Jamison continued to record and perform as a solo act, and upon occasion, with Survivor well throughout the rest of his life. His most recent solo album, Never Too Late, was released in 2012. Jimi Jamison was 63 when he died of a heart attack on August 31, 2014.
