King Ernest Baker

"King" Ernest Baker (May 30, 1939 – March 5, 2000) was an American blues and soul singer. He recorded "I Feel Alright" and "That's When I Woke Up." His great-grandfather was an Italian violinist from Milan who lived to be 109. According to Baker, all of his Southern State children (referred to as half-Mulatto in those times) were violinists and guitar players. His grandfather was part of a Baker Band Revue, which played around and in Louisiana and Mississippi. His father was a guitarist who would play at the Honky-tonk places in the south. He recalled sitting on his fathers knee at around seven years old and listening to his father signing and playing his slide guitar. He would also hold out a cup for the listeners to put money in to.

Career His first professional outing was in 1958 with Byther Smith at Wynn's Lounge in Chicago, Illinois. Baker credited Smith with giving him his start as a professional.

He became a popular Chicago club attraction, and performed variously with Tyrone Davis, Buddy Guy and Howlin' Wolf. Being a tall man standing at 6 ft 3in, The labels he recorded for were, Barry in New York and in Chicago, Sonic, Funk, Mercury and Blue Soul. Due to the disappointments in his career he got a job with the Sheriffs department. He stayed there for 14 years as a supervisor until retiring at 55. Via the classified ads in local papers, Baker recruited his band. With their mix of R&B, funk, gospel and blues, they began playing in clubs in Los Angeles black areas. Baker was hired by Randy Chortkoff as the featured singer in his blues revue, backed by some of Los Angeles' best blues musicians. He started booking King Ernest & the Wild Knights at venues up and down the West Coast.

Later Baker got a recording contract and his first CD album King of Hearts was released in January 1997 on the Evidence label.

In May 1999 Baker undetook a short tour of shows in Israel – eight shows in Tel Aviv and in Eilat, backed by local band "The Daily Blues" (led by harmonica player Dov Hammer).

In 2000, Baker had just finished recording his second album, Blues Got Soul which would end up being his last recording. He had a listen to the CD on March 2.

Accident and death A few days after listening to his new album, and while on his way back to Los Angeles he was killed in a car crash, near to Santa Maria, California on Highway 101.

"Voodoo Man" / "Be My Guy" Roulette 4707 1966

"Strangers In The Night" / "Harlem Moods" R Records 45–1513 Side 2 credited to Candy Man and the Candy Bars

"The Soul Stroke (Can You Handle It)" / "The Soul Stroke" Sonic RC-1000-1 1970

"Somebody Somewhere (Is Playing With Yours)" / (Instr) Funk Records 1971

"I Can't Turn You A Loose" / "That's When I Woke Up" Supreme Records

"Alone Again" / "Do It With The Feeling (Pt.1)" Blue Soul 1010 1975

"I Can't Turn It A Loose" / "You Gonna Miss Me" "LK" Records LK7 1976

"Must Have Lost My Mind (Radio Edit)""Must Have Lost My Mind (Extended Version)" / "Rock Me In Your Arms" Grapevine GSX 5004 2002 12" 33RPM

Blues Got Soul Fat Possum Records 80334–2 2001 CD