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Mickey
"Guitar" Baker
Mickey & Sylvia star played guitar on
Hundreds of Rock & Roll Classics
October 15, 1925 - November 27, 2012
Mickey Baker
Mickey “Guitar” Baker died in Toulouse, France, on Tuesday November 27, 2012
at the age of 87.
Mickey “Guitar” Baker, best known to the record buying public for his part
in the duet of Mickey & Sylvia, may have been one of the greatest Rock &
Roll guitarists of all time. Though rarely credited, Mickey Baker’s guitar
is also heard on the recording sessions of literally hundreds, make that
thousands, of Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll recordings. Since many
of those recordings are well known R&B vocal group sides, he deserves
special recognition by those of us who are fans of vocal harmony.
By all accounts, McHouston “Mickey” Baker had a troubled childhood. Mickey
was born in Louisville, KY, on October 15, 1925, to an unstable family life
that we won’t get into. Mickey ended up being passed around from home, to
home, to orphanage, often running away but being brought back. He finally
made his way to New York City as a teenager where he taught himself to play
guitar.
Mickey soon began playing guitar with Billy Valentines’ band. After a short
relocation to California, where he was influenced by Pee Wee Crayton, Mickey
was back in NYC where his guitar style had changed to a wilder style of
blues and R&B.
Mickey began doing session work for any labels that he could, including
Savoy and Atlantic. Mickey’s session work put him on many of the top R&B
and R&R recordings for the 1950’s (see list below). He also began making
recordings himself, under the name Mickey ”Guitar” Baker.
With the staff band at Atlantic Records, Mickey Baker’s guitar can be
heard on records by the Drifters, Cardinals, Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Lavern
Baker and many more.
In live appearances, Mickey Baker was in the backing orchestra for stage
shows produced by Alan Freed, Ramon Bruce and many others.
Mickey Baker even began working on a guitar book, “Mickey Baker’s Complete
Book For Jazz Guitar”. In 1954, Mickey Baker backed a young Sylvia
Vanderpool on the Cat label (“Fine Love” b/w “Speedy Life, Cat
#1020). He began teaching her guitar and they were soon recoding together
as a duet. Their recording of “Love Is Strange” became a huge hit. The
record went to #1 on the R&B Charts in 1957 and #11 on the Pop Charts.
(From the Classic Urban
Harmony Archives)
Mickey & Sylvia would go on to have several chart records. Sylvia would
later marry Joe Robinson and start the Stang, All Platinum and Sugar Hill
labels.
Mickey & Sylvia
(Photo courtesy of Paul Ressler)
Mickey & Sylvia
(Photo courtesy of Paul Ressler)
In the early 1960’s Mickey Baker tired of the American music scene and
relocated to France. There he continued recording and performing.
Living near Toulouse, France, Mickey Baker did not give many interviews. In
2008, we (Pam & Charlie) went to Toulouse to visit our friends, the Golden
Gate Quartet who were performing there. While waiting for the Gates to
arrive at the hotel, we decided to go out and explore the city. When we
returned a couple hours later, we were told we just missed meeting Mickey
Baker, who’d stopped by the hotel to visit with the Gates. That was the
closest we got to meeting Mickey Baker.
Mickey died November 27, 2012. There will never be a complete discography
of all the (probably thousands of) recordings Mickey Baker was on. We’re
not even going to try to put one together but we would like to list some of
our favorites.
After reading the list below of record that Mickey baker played guitar on,
we think you’ll agree that he was truly one of the unsung heroes of R&B and
R&R.
Some records that we know Mickey Baker played guitar on are:
Cardinals, “Shouldn’t I Know,” Atlantic (1951)
Ruth Brown, “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean.” Atlantic 1952
Carmen Taylor, “Lovin’ Daddy,” Atlantic 1953
Ray Charles, “Heartbreaker,” Atlantic (1953)
Ray Charles, “Mess Around,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “Lucille,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “Money Honey,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “Gone,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “The Way I Feel,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “Such A Night,” Atlantic (1953)
Drifters, “Bip Bam,” Atlantic (1953)
Joe Turner, “Shake Rattle & Roll,” Atlantic (1954)
Ruth Brown & Rhythmakers – “Oh What Dream,” Atlantic (1954)
Ruth Brown & Gliders, “Tomorrow Night,” Atlantic (1954)
Ruth Brown & Gliders, “Tweedle Dee,” Atlantic (1954)
Wilbert Harrison, “Don’t Drop It,” Savoy (1954)
Roamers, “I’ll Never Get Over You,” Savoy (1954)
Dreams, “Darlene,” Savoy (1954)
Dreams, “Letter To My Girl,” Savoy (1954)
Heartbeats, “Tormented,” Network (1955)
Leaders, “Stormy Weather,” Glory (1955)
Varetta Dillard, “Johnny Has Gone,” Savoy (1955)
Varetta Dillard & Roamers, “You’re The Answer To My Prayer,” Savoy (1955)
Nappy Brown, “Don’t Be Angry,” Savoy (1955)
Roamers, “Never Let Me Go,” Savoy (1955)
Dreams, “I’ll Be Faithful,” Savoy (1955)
Carnations, “The Angels Sent You To Me,” Savoy (1955)
Little David & Harps, “I Won’t Cry,” (1955)
Billy Nelson & Five Wings, “Walk Along,” Savoy (1955)
Big Miller & Five Pennies, “All Is Well,” Savoy (1955)
Five Pennies, “Mr. Moon,” Savoy (1955)
Titus Turner, “All Around The World,” Wing (1955)
Five Keys, “I’ll Follow You,” Groove [Unreleased] (1955)
Mellows, "How Sentimental Can I Be," Jay Dee (1956)
Chips, “Rubber Biscuit,” Josie (1956)
Sensations, “Yes Sir That’s My Baby,” Atco (1956)
Nightcaps, “A Kiss And A Vow,” Groove (1956)
Nightcaps, “In Each Corner Of My Heart,” Groove (1956)
Four Fellows, “Loving You Darling,” Glory (1956)
Five Pennies, “My Heart Trembles,” Savoy (1956)
Little Anthony & Duponts, “You,” Winley (1956)
Little Anthony & Duponts, “Must Be Falling In Love,” Winley (1956)
Continentals, “Dear Lord,” Whirlin’ Disc (1956)
Continentals, “Picture Of Love,” Whirlin’ Disc (1956)
Channels, “Now You Know,” Whirlin’ Disc (1956)
Louis Jordan, “Caldonia,” [remake], Mercury (1956)
Dubs, "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely," Johnson (1957)
Ruth Brown, “This Little Girl’s Gone Rockin’,” Atlantic (1958)
Coasters, “Poison Ivy,” Atco (1959)
Ike & Tina Turner, “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” Sue (1961)
In addition, Mickey “Guitar Baker” has recorded on sessions with the
Solitaires, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Little Ester, Young Jessie, Big Maybelle,
Annie Laurie, Jimmy Scott, Sil Austin, Faye Adams, Al Savage, Hal Singer,
Larry Dale, Sam Price, Big John Greer and hundreds of other artists.
Some Recordings under Mickey Baker’s name (or Mickey & Sylvia, etc.):
As Mickey Guitar Baker & Houserockers
Rainbow 288 – Shake Walkin’ / Greasy Spoon
Rainbow 299 - Bandstand Stomp / Rock With A Sock
Rainbow 303 – Old Devil Moon / Guitarambo
As Mickey & Sylvia
Rainbow 316 – I’m So Glad / Se De Boom Run Dun
Rainbow 318 – Forever And A Day / Rise Sally Rise
Rainbow 330 – Where’s My Honey / Seems like Yesterday
Groove 0164 – No Good Lover / Walkin’ In The Rain
Groove 0174 – Love Is Strange / I’m Going Home
Vik 0252 – Love Is Strange / I’m Going Home
Vik 0267 – There Ought To Be A Law / Dearest
Vik 0280 – Love Will Make You Fail In School / Two Shadows On Your Window
Vik 0290 – Let’s Have A Picnic / Love Is A Treasure
Vik 0297 – There’ll Be No Backin’ Out / Where’s My Honey
Vik 0334 – Bewildered / Rock & Stroll Room
Vik 0334 – True true Love / It’s You I Love
RCA Victor 47-7403 - To The Valley / Oh Yeah Uh Huh
RCA Victor 61-7774 – Sweeter As The Day Goes By / Mommy Out The Light
RCA Victor 47-7811 - This Is My Story / What Would I Do
RCA Victor 37-7877 – Love Is The Only Thing / Love Lesson
RCA Victor 47-8582 - Fallin’ In Love / From The Beginning Of Time / I’m So
Glad
Willow 23000 – Lovedrops / Baby You’re So Fine
Willow 23002 – I’m Guilty / Darling (I Miss You So)
Willow 23004 – Since I Fell For You / He Gave Me Everything
Willow 23006 – Love Is Strange / Walking In The Rain
RCA Victor 47- 8517 – Gypsy / Let’s Shake Some More
RCA Victor 47-8582 – From The Beginning Of Time / Fallin’ In Love
King 6006 – Love Is Strange / Darling (I Miss You So)
As
Mickey Baker
Savoy 865 – Riverboat / Mambola
Savoy 867 – Riverboat / Guitar Mambo
Savoy 874 – Oh Happy Day / Love You Baby
Atlantic 2042 – Third Man Theme / Baia
King 5951 – Side show / Steamroller
King 5979 – Do What You Do / Night Blue
As
Mickey & Kitty
Atlantic 2046 – Buttercup / My Reverie
As Big Red McHouston (Larry Dale, vocal)
Groove 0020 – I’m Tired / Where Is My Honey
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2012. All
Rights Reserved.
