Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

December 21, 1931 in Indianapolis, IN

Death

:

March 26, 2016 in Bloomington, IN

Genre

:

Chamber

 

David Nathaniel Baker Jr. was an American composer, jazz musician, and educator who was born on December 21, 1931, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of David Nathaniel Baker Sr. and Estella Baker. His father was a dentist, and his mother was a homemaker. Baker grew up in a musical family, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Baker began playing the trombone at the age of 12 and later switched to the cello. He attended Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, where he played in the school orchestra and jazz band. After graduating from high school, Baker attended Indiana University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance in 1953. After completing his undergraduate studies, Baker served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He played in the Army band and also served as a music instructor. After his military service, Baker returned to Indiana University, where he earned a Master of Music degree in cello performance in 1956. In the late 1950s, Baker began to focus more on jazz music. He played with several jazz bands, including the George Russell Sextet and the Quincy Jones Orchestra. He also recorded several albums as a jazz musician, including "Baker's Holiday" and "How to Play Bebop." In addition to his work as a jazz musician, Baker was also a prolific composer. He wrote music in a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, and blues. Some of his most notable works include "Concertino for Cell Phones and Orchestra," "Roots II," and "The Black Composer Speaks." Baker was also a dedicated educator. He taught at Indiana University from 1966 to 2013, where he was a professor of music and the chair of the jazz studies department. He also taught at several other universities, including the University of Hartford and the University of Miami. Throughout his career, Baker received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2000. He was also awarded the Living Jazz Legend Award by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2007. David Baker passed away on March 26, 2016, at the age of 84. He left behind a legacy as a talented musician, composer, and educator who made significant contributions to the world of music.

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