Baker, Chet

orig. Chesney Henry Baker

(born Dec. 23, 1929, Yale, Okla., U.S.—died May 13, 1988, Amsterdam, Neth.) U.S. trumpeter and singer. After playing in army bands he attracted attention during engagements with Charlie Parker and Gerry Mulligan in 1952 and 1953. His subdued tone and gentle phrasing made him the epitome of the cool jazz (see bebop) of the 1950s. With recordings such as “My Funny Valentine” he established his plaintive, fragile approach as a vocalist, which mirrored his trumpet style. Much of his later career, interrupted several times by legal problems stemming from drug addiction, was spent in Europe.

Find more information on Baker, Chet. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Baker, Chet.