Tributes to Scottish singer songwriter Jackie Leven
Tributes have been paid to the Scottish singer-songwriter Jackie Leven, who has died at the age of 61, after a battle with cancer.
He was the founding member of the punk band Doll by Doll, and also enjoyed a lengthy solo career.
Among his many releases was a joint album with the crime writer Ian Rankin, who like Mr Leven hailed from Fife.
A reformed drug addict, Leven and his wife set up a charity for the treatment of heroin addiction.
Ian Rankin posted on Twitter: "RIP Jackie Leven. Gentle man, poetic songwriter, skilled guitarist, storyteller. It was an honour to call you friend."
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Tom Morton also used the social networking site to pay tribute to the singer.
He tweeted: "Wish still had some Leven's Lament whisky to drink to his memory. We'll miss him."
Singer-songwriter Eddi Reader posted: "Has Jackie gone?? What hard news today!"
Mr Leven's record label, Cooking Vinyl, also posted: "Our long time friend and CV artist Jackie Leven has lost his battle with cancer. We will miss him dearly."
In the days leading up to his death, a statement on Mr Leven's official website said: "In a career stretching over 40 years, Jackie Leven has carved an impressive reputation as a uniquely gifted singer-songwriter.
"From his emergence as leader of the underrated Doll by Doll in the seventies, through well documented addiction problems which Leven overcame with remarkable strength of will, culminating in a solo resurgence through the 1980s to the here and now, Jackie has amassed an amazing body of work - the composer of over 400 songs, including arguably his greatest song - Call Mother, from the album Mystery of Love (ranked by Q magazine as one of '100 Best Albums of All Time'."
It added: "If sales didn't always reflect the overwhelmingly positive critical reception his albums received, he nonetheless remained a perceptive writer and performer.
"Jackie was imbued with a restless creativity, and always searching for new settings for his ruminative lyrical forays, laced with humour and melodic grace.
"As a performer, Jackie could enthral and entrance the audience with picaresque tales taken from first-hand experience. Those that have worked with Jackie will know of his mordant wit and very idiosyncratic world view."