Chet Baker was born Chesney Henry Baker, Jr. in Yale, Oklahoma on December 23,
1929, he began his musical career as a child, singing at amateur competitions and in a
church choir. His father brought home a trombone for him to play, then replaced it with a
trumpet when the larger instrument proved too much for him. Although he did have
some formal training he played mostly by ear.
In 1946, at the age of 16, he dropped out of high school and enlisted in the army. He was
sent to Berlin, Germany, where he played in the 298th Army Band. After his discharge in
1948, he enrolled at El Camino College in Los Angeles, where he studied theory and
harmony while playing in jazz clubs He quit college in the middle of his second year. He
re-enlisted in the army in 1950 and became a member of the Sixth Army Band at the
Presidio in San Francisco, but began sitting in at clubs like Bop City and the Blackhawk
in the city, and soon obtained a second discharge to pursue a career as a professional
musician.
Baker played initially in Vido Musso's band, and soon after with Stan Getz. His break
came quickly, when, in the spring of 1952, he was chosen at an audition to play a series
of dates with Charlie Parker, making his debut with the alto saxophonist at the Tiffany
Club in Los Angeles on May 29, 1952. That summer, he began playing in the Gerry
Mulligan Quartet, a pianoless group featuring baritone sax, trumpet, bass, and drums. The
group attracted attention during an engagement at the Haig and through recordings on
newly formed Pacific Jazz Records.
The Gerry Mulligan Quartet lasted for less than a year, ending when its leader went to jail
on a drug charge in June of 1953. Baker soon formed his own quartet, which initially
featured Russ Freeman on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Bobby White on drums.
Baker won a number of polls (including DownBeat and Metron ome) in the next few
years. In 1954, Pacific Jazz released "Chet Baker Sings," an album that increased his
popularity but alienated traditional jazz fans; he would continue to sing for the rest of his
career. By 1955, he had made his acting debut in the film Hell's Horizon. He declined an
offer of a studio contract and toured Europe from September 1955 to April 1956. When
he returned to the U.S., he formed a quintet that featured saxophonist Phil Urso and
pianist Bobby Timmons. Contrary to his reputation for relaxed, laid-back playing, Baker
turned to more of a bop style with this group, which recorded the album "Chet Baker &
Crew" for Pacific Jazz in July 1956.
Baker toured the U.S. in February 1957 with the Birdland All Stars and took a group to
Europe later that year. He returned to Europe to stay in 1959, settling in Italy, where he
acted in the film Urlatori Alla Sbarra. In 1960, a fictionalized film biography of his life,
"All the Fine Young Cannibals," appeared with Robert Wagner in the starring role of
Chad Bixby.
Baker’s renditions of “My Funny Valentine”, “Let’s Get Lost”, and others are held as
contemporary jazz “standards” .
Chet Baker died on May 13, 1988 in Amsterdam.
Don't Miss the Chet Baker
Tribute Concert July 2, 2005 at Tidal School Vineyards
