Billy Connolly pay tribute "Gerry Rafferty has a true renius"

Funnyman Billy Connolly paid tribute to his friend and former singing partner Gerry Rafferty, he has a late musician as "a true genius". He included the Scottish comedian's people pair the Humblebums before rising to fame in the 1970s with Stealers Wheel. After a long battle with alcoholism he passed away from liver failure on 4 Jan 2011 and and Connolly has told to his respects friend.

He says, "Gerry Rafferty was a hugely talented songwriter and singer who will be greatly missed. I was privileged to have spent my formative years working with Gerry and there remained a strong bond of friendship between us that lasted until his untimely death. Gerry had extraordinary gifts and his premature passing deprives the world of a true genius."

scottish singing duo The Proclaimers, who has a producer to the Rafferty role in the 1980's, he says, "He was exceptional when we worked together and very kind to us. As well as a great songwriter he was a really, really good singer with fantastic harmony ideas. The fact that as well as producing Letter From America, he sang backing harmonies on it meant a lot to us. A great guy, a fantastic songwriter, Gerry will be sorely missed and we are greatly saddened at the news."