Mickey Baker | Guitarist, 87
Mickey "Guitar" Baker, 87, a guitarist who forged a link between rhythm-and-blues and early rock music and whose 1956 recording of "Love Is Strange" with singer Sylvia Robinson became a pop classic brimming with Latin rhythms and flirtatious banter, died Nov. 27 at his home near Toulouse, France.
Mickey "Guitar" Baker, 87, a guitarist who forged a link between rhythm-and-blues and early rock music and whose 1956 recording of "Love Is Strange" with singer Sylvia Robinson became a pop classic brimming with Latin rhythms and flirtatious banter, died Nov. 27 at his home near Toulouse, France.
The death, of undisclosed causes, was reported by the French publication L'Express.
Mr. Baker's grounding in jazz guitar, coupled with his bluesy and at times distorted and aggressive sound, propelled him to the front rank of New York studio guitarists in the 1950s.
On records, he accompanied singers Dinah Washington, Louis Jordan and Nappy Brown. Mr. Baker was particularly prolific at Atlantic Records. He made Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists, which noted his ample recording-session work and highlighted his millions-selling duet with Robinson.
In 1955, Mr. Baker wrote The Complete Course in Jazz Guitar. It remains in print and was one of the first published jazz guitar instruction manuals.
Mr. Baker was married at least twice. Survivors could not be determined. - Washington Post