Chet Baker

Chesney Henry "Chet" 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). 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 23, 1929 (Yale), Died May 13, 1988 (Amsterdam)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1956

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
Decca DGG 53947 3/26/1956 I'll remember April Caterina Valente instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DGG 53948 3/26/1956 Ev'rytime we say goodbye Caterina Valente instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baker, Chet," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/302591.

Baker, Chet. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/302591.

"Baker, Chet." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/302591

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