Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Chet Baker

Role / Field:

Iconic American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, known for pioneering the 'Cool Jazz' sound.

Born:

1929-12-23

Died:

1988-05-13

Century / Era:

1929s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Chesney Henry Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals: Chet Baker Sings (1954) and It Could Happen to You (1958).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Jazz historian Dave Gelly described the promise of Baker's early career as "James Dean, Sinatra, and Bix, rolled into one". His well-publicized drug habit also drove his notoriety and fame. Baker was in and out of jail frequently before enjoying a career resurgence in the late 1970s and 1980s. Baker was born December 23, 1929, in Yale, Oklahoma, and raised in a musical household. His father, Chesney Baker Sr., was a professional Western swing guitarist, and his mother, Vera Moser, was a pianist who worked in a perfume factory.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His maternal grandmother was Norwegian. Baker said that owing to the Great Depression, his father, though talented, had to quit as a musician and take a regular job. In 1940, when Baker was 10, his family relocated to Glendale, California. Baker began his musical...

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• 1929 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1929
• December 23 (12-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 23
• 1988 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1988
• May 13 (05-13) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 13

Frequently Asked Questions about Chet Baker