(1939-08-19)19 August 1939 Lewisham, South London, England
Died
6 October 2019(2019-10-06) (aged 80) Canterbury, Kent, England
Genres
Rock
blues
jazz
Afrobeat
Occupation(s)
Drummer
Years active
1950s–2015
Labels
Polydor
Warner Bros.
Island
Formerly of
Blues Incorporated
the Graham Bond Organisation
Cream
Ginger Baker's Air Force
Blind Faith
Ginger Baker and Friends
Baker Gurvitz Army
Hawkwind
Atomic Rooster
Masters of Reality
BBM
Ginger Baker Trio
Website
gingerbaker.com
Musical artist
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer.[1] His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pioneered both jazz fusion and world music.[2]
Baker gained early fame as a member of Blues Incorporated and the Graham Bond Organisation, both times alongside bassist Jack Bruce, with whom Baker would often clash. In 1966, Baker and Bruce joined guitarist Eric Clapton to form Cream, which achieved worldwide success but lasted only until 1968, in part due to Baker's and Bruce's volatile relationship. After working with Clapton in the short-lived band Blind Faith and leading Ginger Baker's Air Force, Baker spent several years in the 1970s living and recording in Africa, often with Fela Kuti, in pursuit of his long-time interest in African music.[3] Among Baker's other collaborations are his work with Gary Moore, Masters of Reality, Public Image Ltd, Hawkwind, Atomic Rooster, Bill Laswell, jazz bassist Charlie Haden, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and Ginger Baker's Energy.
Baker's drumming is regarded for its style, showmanship, and use of two bass drums instead of the conventional single one, after the manner of the jazz drummer Louie Bellson. In his early days, he performed lengthy drum solos, most notably in the Cream song "Toad", one of the earliest recorded examples in rock music. Baker was an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Cream in 1993, of the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2008,[4] and of the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2016.[5] Baker was noted for his eccentric, often self-destructive lifestyle, and he struggled with heroin addiction for many decades. He was married four times and fathered three children.
^Baker, Ginger; Baker, Ginette (7 June 2010). Hellraiser The autobiography of the World's Most Famous Drummer. John Blake. ISBN 978-1-844-5496-65.
^Budofski, Adam (2010). The Drummer: 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-423-4766-03.
^Bulger, Jay (director) (2012). Beware of Mr. Baker (Documentary). SnagFilms.
^"Modern Drummer's Readers Poll Archive, 1979–2014". Modern Drummer. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
^"Classic Drummer Hall of Fame, Ginger Baker Induction Page, 2016". Classic Drummer Hall of Fame. Classic Drummer. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's...
Eric Clapton, GingerBaker, and Ric Grech. They followed the success of each of the member's former bands, including Clapton and Baker's former group Cream...
Commercial" (Clapton, GingerBaker, Jack Bruce) "Sunshine of Your Love" (Clapton, Bruce, Pete Brown) "N.S.U." (Bruce) Per liner notes GingerBaker – drums, percussion...
the Graham Bond Organisation (GBO), where he met future Cream bandmate GingerBaker. After leaving the band, he briefly joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers...
Blind Faith, Winwood and Ric Grech continued working with GingerBaker, as part of GingerBaker's Air Force, who also featured Winwood's Traffic bandmate...
Baker Gurvitz Army were an English rock group. Their self-titled debut album featured a blend of hard rock laced with GingerBaker's jazz- and Afrobeat-influenced...
consisting of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer GingerBaker. The album was released in the UK on 9 December 1966, as the first LP...
with Gonzalez, before joining the Jeff Beck Group. He recorded with GingerBaker before touring with Beck, Bogert & Appice as vocalist and recording sessions...
other jazz influenced drummers like Carter Beauford, Mitch Mitchell and GingerBaker. He is featured on William Duvall (Alice in Chains)'s album 11.12.21...
"Mull of Kintyre". Laine worked with a variety of other artists such as GingerBaker, Trevor Burton, Bev Bevan, and more as a part of groups over a six-decade...
teacher, most notable for his work with Toyah Willcox, Hawkwind and GingerBaker. The Yorkshire-born musician moved south when he was ten. Whilst in his...
made by fermenting a mixture of water, brewer's or baker's yeast (not the SCOBY described above), ginger, and sugar. This is kept for a week or longer, with...
tenure with the Who, his drum kit steadily grew in size, and (along with GingerBaker) he has been credited as one of the earliest rock drummers to regularly...
GingerBaker at His Best was part of a set of four double albums consisting of selected individual and collective output of the British rock band Cream...
Graham Bond (vocals, keyboards, alto-saxophone), Jack Bruce (bass), GingerBaker (drums), Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor/soprano saxophone) and John McLaughlin...
1966. After leaving Mayall, he formed the power trio Cream with drummer GingerBaker and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, in which Clapton played sustained blues...
and "Sorrow" by Peter, Paul and Mary. It was released as a single by GingerBaker's Air Force with vocals by Denny Laine. Public interest in the song was...
The band's visas expired on the very last day of recording. Drummer GingerBaker recalled how the album's title was based on a malapropism which alluded...
the Graham Bond Organisation, a band that had started in 1963, with GingerBaker on drums. Jack Bruce was the bassist in the band, and Godfrey teamed...