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| Why do we think Bob Holness was the Baker Street saxophonist? | Why do we think Bob Holness was the Baker Street saxophonist? |
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| As the nation mourns the sad passing of singer Gerry Rafferty, the myth involving his famous song Baker Street and a certain quiz show host has received a fresh airing. So how, asks the Magazine, did it come about? | As the nation mourns the sad passing of singer Gerry Rafferty, the myth involving his famous song Baker Street and a certain quiz show host has received a fresh airing. So how, asks the Magazine, did it come about? |
| Mention Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and it's not long before someone pipes up with the classic "Did you know…" associated with the song. | Mention Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and it's not long before someone pipes up with the classic "Did you know…" associated with the song. |
| The story goes that quiz show host Bob Holness, a radio and television presenter known to millions for his 12 years on ITV's Blockbusters, played the saxophone solo that defined the track. | The story goes that quiz show host Bob Holness, a radio and television presenter known to millions for his 12 years on ITV's Blockbusters, played the saxophone solo that defined the track. |
| It's not true, of course. The real saxophonist was a Scottish musician named Raphael Ravenscroft. | It's not true, of course. The real saxophonist was a Scottish musician named Raphael Ravenscroft. |
| So firmly is this untruth embedded in people's minds that in Twitter discussions following Rafferty's death, it was Holness's name that came up time and again, although sometimes in a very knowing way. | So firmly is this untruth embedded in people's minds that in Twitter discussions following Rafferty's death, it was Holness's name that came up time and again, although sometimes in a very knowing way. |
| It is thought the myth first appeared as a blatant spoof in the Believe It Or Not column in NME's Thrills page, in 1990. | It is thought the myth first appeared as a blatant spoof in the Believe It Or Not column in NME's Thrills page, in 1990. |
| Music writer Stuart Maconie, who was once NME's assistant editor, has claimed responsibility. | Music writer Stuart Maconie, who was once NME's assistant editor, has claimed responsibility. |
| "My personal and silly part in a sad story is that as an NME writer I invented the urban myth claiming that Bob played the sax solo on Gerry's 1978 hit Baker Street," he said, writing this week. | "My personal and silly part in a sad story is that as an NME writer I invented the urban myth claiming that Bob played the sax solo on Gerry's 1978 hit Baker Street," he said, writing this week. |
| "That's not true. What is, is that Gerry's enigmatic, wry songcraft and his way with a nagging melody made him a reluctant star in successive eras of 70s pop. | "That's not true. What is, is that Gerry's enigmatic, wry songcraft and his way with a nagging melody made him a reluctant star in successive eras of 70s pop. |
| "But most famously his single Baker Street was a worldwide hit - helped by his melancholic delivery and that unforgettable sax line, played not by Blockbusters host Bob but Raphael Ravenscroft." | "But most famously his single Baker Street was a worldwide hit - helped by his melancholic delivery and that unforgettable sax line, played not by Blockbusters host Bob but Raphael Ravenscroft." |
| But Maconie may not provide the whole story. Tommy Boyd has also said he was the first to make the connection, years before Maconie, while a DJ on London's LBC, looking for false stories for a quiz. | But Maconie may not provide the whole story. Tommy Boyd has also said he was the first to make the connection, years before Maconie, while a DJ on London's LBC, looking for false stories for a quiz. |
| "The idea of someone as neat and tidy as Bob being able to swing out a raunchy sax came easily, and I ran 'True or false: Bob Holness played sax on Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street?' for one night." | "The idea of someone as neat and tidy as Bob being able to swing out a raunchy sax came easily, and I ran 'True or false: Bob Holness played sax on Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street?' for one night." |
| And Ravenscroft himself also says he came up with the idea. He told the Magazine: "I made that up because I used to be asked 20 or 30 times if I was the person who did it, so to a foreign journalist I said it was Bob Holness, because I had been working with him on a Robinson's advert. It was just a bit of fun." | And Ravenscroft himself also says he came up with the idea. He told the Magazine: "I made that up because I used to be asked 20 or 30 times if I was the person who did it, so to a foreign journalist I said it was Bob Holness, because I had been working with him on a Robinson's advert. It was just a bit of fun." |
| Whatever the exact genesis, the story gained momentum and Holness was often questioned about it. | Whatever the exact genesis, the story gained momentum and Holness was often questioned about it. |
| Years later, he said: "I would have loved to have been responsible for that tremendous sax solo but I can't play a note." | Years later, he said: "I would have loved to have been responsible for that tremendous sax solo but I can't play a note." |
| It's one of those pop legends that has been repeated many times, says Simon Warner, lecturer in popular music studies at the University of Leeds. | It's one of those pop legends that has been repeated many times, says Simon Warner, lecturer in popular music studies at the University of Leeds. |
| "It used to pop up in pub quizzes and pub conversations - was Bob Holness the man who played the sax or not? | "It used to pop up in pub quizzes and pub conversations - was Bob Holness the man who played the sax or not? |
| "I remember Baker Street being out and the sax solo had quite a memorable quality to it. The riff left its mark on pop fans. It was a hit and everyone knew the line, so when this rumour was put around, people took an interest. | "I remember Baker Street being out and the sax solo had quite a memorable quality to it. The riff left its mark on pop fans. It was a hit and everyone knew the line, so when this rumour was put around, people took an interest. |
| "Blockbusters was beginning to make an impression at the time so there was this double level of popular cultural exposure, through the music and the TV programme. It's so absurd that it had a ring of truth to it." | "Blockbusters was beginning to make an impression at the time so there was this double level of popular cultural exposure, through the music and the TV programme. It's so absurd that it had a ring of truth to it." |
| But beware from discounting all fanciful facts involving Bob Holness. | But beware from discounting all fanciful facts involving Bob Holness. |
| He was the second actor to portray James Bond, starring in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1956. | He was the second actor to portray James Bond, starring in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1956. |
| Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |
| As child I remember watching an episode of Blockbusters where a question was asked about Rafferty's Baker Street. After the points were awarded Bob looked into camera with a twinkle in his eye and mentioned what a great sax solo it was and members of the audience shared a little laugh with him. At the time I had not heard the rumours (and had no idea what the the joke they were sharing was) and just assumed it must've been Bob who played it. Next day at school I inadvertently started up the same rumour believing it was true. | As child I remember watching an episode of Blockbusters where a question was asked about Rafferty's Baker Street. After the points were awarded Bob looked into camera with a twinkle in his eye and mentioned what a great sax solo it was and members of the audience shared a little laugh with him. At the time I had not heard the rumours (and had no idea what the the joke they were sharing was) and just assumed it must've been Bob who played it. Next day at school I inadvertently started up the same rumour believing it was true. |
| Alex Mileman, Fulham, London | Alex Mileman, Fulham, London |
| This is not the only myth associated with Bob Holness - he's been said to have been lead guitarist on Derek and the Dominoes' "Layla" and making Elvis Presley laugh on Are You Lonesome Tonight?. In a way it's a tribute to how popular Bob is: perhaps we'd like to believe he really did all that. | This is not the only myth associated with Bob Holness - he's been said to have been lead guitarist on Derek and the Dominoes' "Layla" and making Elvis Presley laugh on Are You Lonesome Tonight?. In a way it's a tribute to how popular Bob is: perhaps we'd like to believe he really did all that. |
| John Gammon, Brighton | John Gammon, Brighton |
| Quite bizarre! I have never understood how this actually caught on. Raph was credited on the album, was suddenly in high demand because of it, was even at the Albert Hall playing it if I remember rightly. It was hardly a big secret that Raph played the solo. Maybe this shows how gullible to public are and how easily they are sold idiotic ideas by the media. A lesson in there somewhere me thinks! | Quite bizarre! I have never understood how this actually caught on. Raph was credited on the album, was suddenly in high demand because of it, was even at the Albert Hall playing it if I remember rightly. It was hardly a big secret that Raph played the solo. Maybe this shows how gullible to public are and how easily they are sold idiotic ideas by the media. A lesson in there somewhere me thinks! |
| Joss, Milton Keynes, UK | Joss, Milton Keynes, UK |
| Very like the 'John Peel playing mandolin on Maggie May' story. The real musician was one of Lindisfarne. Peel mimed playing the instrument on one episode of Top of the Pops. For some reason the real mandolin player wasn't credited by Rod Stewart though. | Very like the 'John Peel playing mandolin on Maggie May' story. The real musician was one of Lindisfarne. Peel mimed playing the instrument on one episode of Top of the Pops. For some reason the real mandolin player wasn't credited by Rod Stewart though. |
| Peter, Notts | Peter, Notts |
| "It probably took hold because it was so ludicrous that people would repeat it as a fact." I don't think it was that ludicrous a tale. Baker Street was released during what could be described as the "era of the all-round entertainer" -think Des O'Connor, Leslie Crowther, and of course Brucie. Bob Holness: Baker Street Saxophonist may've seemed surprising, but still credible enough tell someone else about. | "It probably took hold because it was so ludicrous that people would repeat it as a fact." I don't think it was that ludicrous a tale. Baker Street was released during what could be described as the "era of the all-round entertainer" -think Des O'Connor, Leslie Crowther, and of course Brucie. Bob Holness: Baker Street Saxophonist may've seemed surprising, but still credible enough tell someone else about. |
| Matthew Webb, Bath, Somerset | Matthew Webb, Bath, Somerset |
| Bob Holness does, of course, have a genuine and important connection to British pop music: he is the father of Ros Holness, who was in the girl band Toto Coelo. They had a hit with "I Eat Cannibals" in 1982. | Bob Holness does, of course, have a genuine and important connection to British pop music: he is the father of Ros Holness, who was in the girl band Toto Coelo. They had a hit with "I Eat Cannibals" in 1982. |
| Tony, | Tony, |
| Raphael Ravenscroft recently played on my upcoming album here in Exeter. He talks quite casually and modestly about his role in Gerry's Baker street but after working with Raphael I can honestly say what a genius he is! | Raphael Ravenscroft recently played on my upcoming album here in Exeter. He talks quite casually and modestly about his role in Gerry's Baker street but after working with Raphael I can honestly say what a genius he is! |
| Mark Travis, Exeter | Mark Travis, Exeter |