About Shorty Baker
Lived 1914 – 1966 (aged 52). Shorty Baker was an American trumpeter, jazz musician, composer and musician.
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.
Discography As leader/co-leader 1958.09 - The Broadway Beat (King, 1959) 1960.05 - The Bud Freeman All-Stars featuring Shorty Baker (Swingville, 1960) with Bud Freeman 1960.05 - Summer Concert 1960 (Jazz Archives, 1960) The Bud Freeman/Shorty Baker All-Stars 1961.01 - Shorty & Doc (Swingville, 1961) with Doc Cheatham
As sideman
With Johnny Hodges 1950 - The Rabbit (Vogue, 1950) 1954 - Johnny Hodges (Norgran, 1954) reissued as Used to Be Duke (Norgran, Verve) 1955 - Dance Bash (Norgran, 1955) reissued ad Perdido (Norgran and Verve?) 1957 - The Big Sound (Verve, 1957) 196' - The Smooth Sound (Verve?) 1961 - Soloist W BIlly Strayhor and Orchestra (Verve?)
With Billy Strayhorn 1959 - Cue for Saxophone (Felsted, 1959)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Shorty Baker's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Shorty Baker's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Shorty Baker?
American musician (1914–1966)
When was Shorty Baker born?
Shorty Baker was born on 26 May 1914 in St. Louis.
When did Shorty Baker die?
Shorty Baker died on 8 November 1966 in New York City.
What was Shorty Baker's occupation?
Shorty Baker was a trumpeter, jazz musician, composer and musician.
What nationality was Shorty Baker?
Shorty Baker was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shorty Baker. https://biography.guide/shorty-baker/
MLA: "Shorty Baker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shorty-baker/.
Chicago: "Shorty Baker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shorty-baker/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:05 UTC