Kenny Baker - Kenneth Clayton Baker (1926 - 2011)

Kenneth Clayton Baker (1926 -- 2011)

To commemorate the life and musical legacy Kenny Baker, Appalshop presents media excerpts documenting a 1977 performance featuring this influential bluegrass fiddler combined with video of his funeral service held in Letcher County, Kentucky on July 12, 2011.

Born near Jenkins, Kentucky, Baker played music semi-professionally in eastern Kentucky during the 1940s but made his living primarily as a coal miner and farmer. He also served in the Navy during World War II. A decade later, in 1957, Baker became a mainstay of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys playing fiddle with this groundbreaking bluegrass band off and on for 23 years. Baker's recordings contain many great old fiddle tunes and more than 80 of his own compositions. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (1999) and a recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship (1993) recognizing Baker's mastery of dynamic control, phrasing, and accuracy in his "long bow" technique that is envied and imitated by other fiddlers. This award by the National Endowment for the Arts for master folk and traditional artists honors their contributions to our national cultural mosaic.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kenny
• Baker
• Bill
• Monroe
• live
• concert
• band
• classic
• fiddle
• violin
• bluegrass
• Blue
• Grass
• Boys
• death
• funeral
• music

[2rockyj]

Truly unbelievable talent. I feel like the earlier post. My Dad was a fiddle player. Heard em all from Texas to Virginia. He always said Kenny Baker could get more tone out of a fiddle in 5 minutes than anyone could in a week. We truly miss him. He was the greatest.

[warehambr]

This tune is the song that I came away with after seeing Bill Monroe for the first time in 1971. It stuck in my mind for a decade. I never cared as much for the version on the record, and even the version with Richard Greene, while haunting, does not match the soulful smoothness of Kenny Baker's fiddling, which is what I remembered. I would have been at this funeral if I could have, so I am glad to see and hear this video.

[Irishfiddler03]

Thank you so much for putting this video up. Kenny was a dear friend. I miss him terribly.  I couldn't be at the funeral so thank you! R.I.P. Kenny Baker. You were and always will be the best fiddler on this planet.

[marty05123]

as my dad said kenny baker was put on this earth to show the rest of us how to play the fiddle no one will ever be able to do  what he has done for this music and never will be able to play like he did R I P kenny baker you truely were the greatest fiddle player to ever live

[bluegrassman776]

I LOVED THE TIMES I SAW HIM AT THE OSBORNE BROTHERS FESTIAL IN HYDEN KENTUCKY, I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2001 , JOSH GRAVES WAS THERE STILL PLAYING WITH HIM AT THAT TIME. I GOT TO SEE THEM BOTH TWO YEARS IN A ROW.2001, 2002, AND I LAST TIME I SAW KENNY BAKER WAS THERE IN HYDEN IN 2005.

[Nashvilleagain]

R.I.P Kenny !

I'll never forget the times we've spend together in Germany and the US. ..see you down the long road...

[stevesprinceofsteaks]

I have been in Afghanistan for 14 months and didn't realize Kenny had passed. I grew up playing with and against Terry Morris and co in TX. But I always enjoyed Kenny;s work. Not special , but always perfect. Never a missed note or slide. One version I did steal from him was his version of Ore the Waves. Did a great unique job on the old Mexican waltz. May he rest in peace at the side of our Lord.

[freetickeys]

Kenny Baker was a Bluegrass Boy longer than anyone. Kids will be "finding" his work for a long, long time. RIP

[verucabeloved1]

RIP Uncle Kenny

[mountaintyme2000]

Very nicely done. Kenny Baker was one of a kind.