Sam Baker (musician) explained

Sam Baker
Landscape:yes
Birth Date:1954
Birth Place:Itasca, Texas
Genre:Americana
Folk
Country
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Instrument:Vocals, guitar
Years Active:2004 –

Sam Baker (born 1954) is an American folk musician based in Austin, Texas.[1] He writes sparse poetic lyrics that have gained him acclaim from other notable folk artists such as Gurf Morlix and Fred Eaglesmith.

Biography

Sam Baker was born in 1954 in Itasca, Texas. He attended Itasca High School, where he played varsity football with fellow musician Tommy Alverson.[2] In 1986, Baker was traveling by train to Machu Picchu in Peru when a bomb placed on a luggage rack above his head by the Shining Path guerrilla group exploded, killing seven other passengers including the three people who had been sitting with him.[1] [3] [4] Baker was left with numerous injuries, including brain damage, a cut artery, and blown-in eardrums.[5] His injuries required 17 reconstructive surgeries.[6] He has a constant case of tinnitus and the fingers of his left hand were left gnarled. He did retain enough dexterity to grasp a guitar pick and over time, re-taught himself to play his guitar left-handed.[6] In a radio interview in 2020, Baker said his brain injury affected his use of language and he struggled to remember nouns. Writing helped him relearn. At the same time he was influenced by the music of Lightning Hopkins and his writing became songwriting as he discovered melody.[7] Previous to the bombing, Baker had worked as a bank examiner and whitewater river guide.[3] [8]

Music

Sam Baker's music has been compared to that of John Prine.[5] Baker's 2013 album, Say Grace, was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the top 10 country music albums of 2013.[9] In his review of Say Grace, Jim Fusilli wrote "In Mr. Baker's tales, the personal becomes universal through his keen-eyed writing, supported by well-chosen instrumentation and what might be called spoken-word melodies."[10]

Among Baker's influences for his songwriting are Ken Kesey, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and Bob Dylan, and fellow Texans Lightnin' Hopkins, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt.[11]

Painting

Sam Baker took up painting after he began songwriting.[11]

Discography

YearTitleRecord Label
2019Horses and Stars (Live)Self-release
2017Land of DoubtSelf-release
2013Say GraceSelf-release
2009CottonMusic Road Records
2007Pretty WorldBlue Lime Stone Records
2004MercySelf-release

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sam Baker . Leggett . Steve . . May 6, 2014.
  2. Web site: Tommy Alverson bio . Tommy Alverson . May 7, 2014.
  3. News: Singer Sam Baker is a true survivor . . May 23, 2008 . May 6, 2014.
  4. News: Terrible Beauty: The ballad of Sam Baker . Doug . Freeman . November 16, 2007 . . May 6, 2014.
  5. Web site: Sam Baker's Remarkable New Album . Rosen . Steven . . August 30, 2013 . May 6, 2014.
  6. News: Surviving tragedy makes Sam Baker's songs resonate . McClelland . Eileen . February 10, 2006 . . May 6, 2014.
  7. Web site: Leader's American Pie with Sam Baker . February 3, 2020 . March 12, 2020.
  8. Web site: Sam Baker's 'Say Grace' Is at Once Beautiful And Broken . August 27, 2013 . Christgau . Robert . Robert Christgau . . May 6, 2014.
  9. Sam Baker, 'Say Grace' . 10 Best Country Albums of 2013 . December 10, 2013 . Hermes . Will . . May 6, 2014.
  10. Fusilli, Jim. Sam Baker: Bard of the Workaday World. The Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2013.
  11. 'say grace': A Conversation With Sam Baker . August 18, 2013 . Bogerd . Hal . . May 7, 2014.