Chet Baker

Aliases: Chet Baker Big Band
Chet Baker & Crew
Chet Baker Ensemble
Chet Baker Quartet
Chet Baker Quintet
Chet Baker Sextet
Chet Baker Trio
Real name: Chesney Henry Baker Jr.
Born: December 23, 1929
Died: May 13, 1988
Country: United States
Comments: Jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player and vocalist. Baker was associated with the west coast jazz movement. He became addicted to heroin in the 1950s and struggled with drug problems the remainder of his life, doing time in prison, including over a year in Italy on drug charges. In 1968, Baker was severely beaten, and his teeth were all broken, causing him to lose the ability to play trumpet. He ultimately got dentures and eventually developed the ability to play trumpet again. From 1973 until 1982, Baker lived with singer Ruth Young, and from 1978 until his death lived primarily in Europe. He fell from the second story of a hotel in Amsterdam and died from head wounds at the age of 59.
Related: Michel Graillier Baker's sideman from 1978 to 1988

Originals

	Title	Performer	Release date	Covered by
i	A Dandy Line	Chet Baker Ensemble	June 1954	(3 artists)
i	Broken Wing	Chet Baker	1979	(6 artists)
i	Echi	Charlie Haden with Chet Baker, Enrico Pieranunzi, Billy Higgins	1989	Unverified
i	Fan Tan	Russ Freeman and Chet Baker	1957	(4 artists)
i	Happy Little Sunbeam	Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman	1953	(10 artists)
i	Let Me Be Loved REC	Chet Baker & Bud Shank	October 1957	(12 artists) Originally by Tommy Sands with Bob Bain's Music REL
i	Motel	Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker	1953	(2 artists)
i	Nightbird	Chet Baker	1987	(3 artists)
i	Picture of Heath	Chet Baker & Art Pepper	February 1958	(2 artists)
i	Resonant Emotions	Chet Baker & Art Pepper	February 1958	Allison Neale
i	Song for Strayhorn	Gerry Mulligan - Chet Baker	1975	(7 artists)
i	The Wind	Chet Baker	April 14, 1954	(34 artists)
i	This Is the Thing	Chet Baker	1964	(2 artists)
i	Tidal Breeze	Chet Baker	1978	(11 artists)
i	Tynan Time	Chet Baker & Art Pepper	February 1958	Leonard Hochman
	Whatever Possess'd Me	Chet Baker	1964	(10 artists)
i	When She Smiles	Chet Baker	1990	(2 artists)
i	You Can't Go Home Again	Chet Baker	1977	(12 artists)