Mickey Baker
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Mickey Baker, also known as Mickey "Guitar" Baker (born McHouston Baker, October 15, 1925, Louisville, Kentucky[1]) is an American guitarist.
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[edit] Career
He was half of the pop duo Mickey & Sylvia, who had a hit single with "Love Is Strange" in 1957. The song was written by Bo Diddley, (but credited to his wife at the time, Ethel Smith), and Jody Williams, who had developed the distinctive lead guitar riff. Williams had recorded the riff earlier on a song called "Billy's Blues" for Billy Stewart. Eventually the song, much more than just a riff, ended up being credited to Smith, Baker and Vanderpool. He is listed in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Baker is also noteworthy as a session guitarist and guitar educator. Baker's session work spanned jazz, calypso, mambo, and rhythm and blues.[2] He is widely held to be a critical force in the bridging of rhythm and blues and rock and roll, along with Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry.[2]
In 1961, he took the male spoken part (usually assumed to be Ike Turner) on Ike & Tina Turner's early hit, "It's Gonna Work Out Fine." Shortly afterwards he moved to France, making a few solo records and working with a lot of French pop and rock performers, including Ronnie Bird. Baker has recorded only sporadically since the mid 1960s.[2]
Baker appeared at the 1975 version of the Roskilde Festival.
In 1999 Baker was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
His self-tuition method book series, the "Complete Course in Jazz Guitar" is a mainstay for introducing students of guitar to the world of jazz. With Les Paul, Baker is important as an early exponent of solid body electric guitars for jazz and popular music.
[edit] Credits
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His guitar playing appeared on the following records:-
- "Money Honey" - The Drifters
- "Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Big Joe Turner
- "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On" - Big Maybelle
- "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" - Ruth Brown
