Mickey Baker

Mickey Baker in concert (1982)

Mickey (McHouston) "Guitar" Baker (born October 15, 1925 in Louisville, Kentucky) is an American guitarist. He was half of the pop duo Mickey & Sylvia, who had a hit with "Love Is Strange" in 1957. He is listed in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Mickey Baker is also noteworthy as a session guitarist and guitar educator. Baker's session work spanned jazz, calypso, mambo, and rhythm and blues. He is widely held to be a critical force in the bridging of rhythm and blues (R&B) and rock and roll, along with Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. His self-tuition method book series, the "Complete Course in Jazz Guitar" is a mainstay for introducing motivated students of guitar to the world of jazz. With Les Paul, Mickey Baker is important as an early exponent of solid body electric guitars for jazz and popular music.