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-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-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 | |
| 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 April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107198.
Baker, Harold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107198.
"Baker, Harold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
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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