Ann Baker

Ann Baker (August 21, 1915 – August 29, 1999) was an American jazz singer. Baker was discovered by Louie Armstrong and played with his band on Broadway. She is best known for her time spent as a member of Billy Eckstine's band, "The Dream Band" where she performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Art Blakey.

She retired in Charleston, West Virginia, where she was known as the "First Lady of Jazz". Bob Hope once told an interviewer his favorite jazz singer was "Little ol' Ann Baker." In 2008, Baker was inducted into the West Virginia Musician Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 21, 1915 (Washington (city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States)), Died August 29, 1999

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= 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 D7VB-0653 10-in. 3/13/1947 Meet me at no special place (and I'll be there at no particular time) Count Basie ; Count Basie Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baker, Ann," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359423.

Baker, Ann. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359423.

"Baker, Ann." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359423

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