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Harold Baker

Harold "Shorty" Baker (May 26, 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, US – November 8, 1966) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Baker began on drums, but switched to trumpet during his teens. He started his career on riverboats and played with Don Redman in the mid-1930s. He also worked with Teddy Wilson and Andy Kirk before joining Duke Ellington. He married Kirk's pianist Mary Lou Williams and though the two separated shortly thereafter, they never officially divorced.

Baker worked on and off in Duke Ellington's Orchestra from 1942 to 1962. He also worked with Johnny Hodges's group in the early 1950s, during the period when Hodges was not a member of Ellington's orchestra.

He died of throat cancer in New York at the age of 52.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 26, 1914 (St. Louis), Died November 8, 1966 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D6VB-2093 10-in. 7/9/1946 Rockabye river Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2094 10-in. 7/9/1946 Suddenly it jumped Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Jimmy Hamilton ; Taft Jordan ; Oscar Pettiford Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2095 10-in. 7/9/1946 Transblucency (a blue fog that you can almost see through) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2096 10-in. 7/9/1946 Just squeeze me (but don't tease me) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2113 10-in. 8/26/1946 Back home again in Indiana Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2114 10-in. 8/26/1946 Blue is the night Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2115 10-in. 8/26/1946 Lover man (Oh, where can you be?) Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano and female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2116 10-in. 8/26/1946 Just you, just me Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2117 10-in. 8/26/1946 Beale Street blues Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2126 10-in. 9/3/1946 My honey's lovin' arms Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Ray Nance Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2129 10-in. 9/3/1946 St. Louis blues Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2130 10-in. 9/3/1946 Swamp fire Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2131 10-in. 9/3/1946 Royal garden blues Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Atlantic 291 10-in. 9/18/1949 I'll get along somehow Ruth Brown ; Budd Johnson's Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Atlantic 293 10-in. 9/18/1949 Rocking blues Ruth Brown ; Budd Johnson's Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67893 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fine and mellow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67894 10-in. 6/25/1940 Scratching in the gravel Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67895 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fifteen minute intermission Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67896 10-in. 6/25/1940 Take those blues away Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67917 10-in. 7/8/1940 Now I lay me down to dream Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67918 10-in. 7/8/1940 There is no greater love Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67919 10-in. 7/8/1940 Midnight stroll Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67920 10-in. 7/8/1940 Little Miss Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68317 10-in. 11/7/1940 The Count Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68318 10-in. 11/7/1940 Twelfth Street rag Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68319 10-in. 11/7/1940 When I saw you Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68363 10-in. 11/18/1940 If I feel this way tomorrow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68364 10-in. 11/18/1940 Or have I ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68365 10-in. 11/18/1940 Baby dear Kansas City Seven ; Mary Lou Williams instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68366 10-in. 11/18/1940 Harmony blues Kansas City Seven ; Mary Lou Williams instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68546 10-in. 1/3/1941 Cuban boogie woogie Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68547 10-in. 1/3/1941 A dream dropped in Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68548 10-in. 1/3/1941 Is it a sin (lovin' you) ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68549 10-in. 1/3/1941 Ring dem bells Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 69519 10-in. 7/17/1941 Big time grip-1 Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 69520 10-in. 7/17/1941 47th Street jive Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 69521 10-in. 7/17/1941 I'm misunderstood Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 69522 10-in. 7/17/1941 No answer Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82401 3/5/1952 When you surrender (Little) Jimmy Scott instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82402 3/5/1952 Alone with a memory (Little) Jimmy Scott instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82403 3/5/1952 Something of a fool (Little) Jimmy Scott instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82404 3/5/1952 Do you mind if I hang around (Little) Jimmy Scott instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83158 7/11/1952 Down beat Mary Lou Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83159 7/11/1952 [Unknown title(s)] Mary Lou Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83160 7/11/1952 Out of nowhere Mary Lou Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83161 7/11/1952 C jam blues Mary Lou Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83455 9/30/1952 Down beat Mary Lou Williams instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83456 9/30/1952 C jam blues, part 1 Mary Lou Williams instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83457 9/30/1952 C jam blues, part 2 Mary Lou Williams instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89718 4/5/1956 Lullaby in rhythm Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89719 4/5/1956 Honey Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89720 4/5/1956 If I had you Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89721 4/5/1956 Stardust Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89722 4/5/1956 My melancholy baby Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89723 4/5/1956 This can't be love Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89724 4/6/1956 Exactly like you Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89725 4/6/1956 Ain't misbehavin' Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89726 4/6/1956 You brought a new kind of love to me Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89727 4/6/1956 I'd climb the highest mountain Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89728 4/6/1956 The little things in life Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 89729 4/6/1956 I ain't got nobody Connie Boswell instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105297 7/14/1958 Steppin' into swing society Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105298 7/14/1958 Black butterfly Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105299 7/14/1958 Got my foot in the door Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105300 7/17/1958 Indelible Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105301 7/17/1958 Ruint Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105302 7/17/1958 Frolic Sam Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105303 7/17/1958 Be patient Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105304 7/22/1958 If you were in my place Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105305 7/22/1958 The gal from Joe's Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105306 7/22/1958 Afternoon moon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105307 7/22/1958 Broadway babe Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 105308 7/22/1958 Yearning for love Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106805 3/16/1959 Cherry pink Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106806 3/16/1959 Azure Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106807 3/16/1959 Little white lies Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106808 3/18/1959 Coral rock Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106809 3/18/1959 Aqua-tonic Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106810 3/18/1959 Maroon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106811 3/18/1959 Black and tan fantasy Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106812 3/18/1959 Mood indigo Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106813 3/18/1959 Blue serge Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106814 3/18/1959 Golden cress Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106815 3/18/1959 The moon was yellow Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 106816 3/18/1959 Down of a greenhorn Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baker, Harold," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107198.

Baker, Harold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107198.

"Baker, Harold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107198

External Sources

Wikipedia: Harold "Shorty" Baker

Discogs: Harold Baker

Allmusic: Harold Baker

Grove: Harold Baker

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Baker, Harold, 1914-1966 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n95005454

Wikidata: Harold "Shorty" Baker - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q353596

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/69114722

MusicBrainz: Harold "Shorty" Baker - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5b38656a-b836-4585-9cc7-c5e731da9ea0

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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