Artists: Ginger Baker
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Ginger Baker Biography
Ginger Baker is probably best known as the drummer with British rock bands Cream and Blind Faith. Despite being hailed as “The Greatest Rock Drummer”, he actually dislikes the title, preferring to proclaim himself a “jazz drummer”.
Following his tenure with a number of jazz bands in the late fifties and early sixties, Ginger’s career really began when he joined the Graham Bond Organisation. From here he formed Cream, along with fellow Bond Organisation bassist, Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton, with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Cream were an instant hit particularly in America, where they sealed their reputation with extensive touring combined with releasing the albums ‘Fresh Cream’, ‘Disraeli Gears’ and ‘Wheels of Fire’. Following the split with Cream, Ginger formed Blind Faith along with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. The band enjoyed massive success in America as well as playing one sell out open air gig in London’s Hyde Park in June 1969. Following this gig the band released their only studio album the self titled ‘Blind Faith’.
Ginger’s next musical stop was his own band, Ginger Baker’s Airforce, which released two albums of part studio and part live recordings. This short-lived band broke up in late 1970 and Ginger then went to live briefly in Lagos, Nigeria, where he established his own recording studios. At this time he also formed the band, Salt, which managed to fuse jazz with African rhythms. A return to the U.K. in the mid seventies, saw Ginger join forces with the Gurvitz brothers, formerly of Three Man Army and Gun, creating The Baker Gurvitz Army. Releasing a number of albums with this band, Ginger re-established his rock career.
Further collaborations with Hawkwind, The Masters of Reality and a reunion with former Cream band mate, Jack Bruce, in Baker Bruce and Moore, were to keep Ginger’s name in the forefront of rock. Cream reunited in May 2005 for successful dates in London at the Royal Albert Hall and in New York, at Madison Square Garden. Ginger also recorded a number of well received jazz albums with his own trio.
In November 2009, Ginger performed a concert to celebrate his seventieth birthday, alongside Chris Goss and very special guest Steve Winwood.
