Adrian Baker

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Adrian Baker
Adrian Baker with the Key to the City of Hickory, NC.jpg
Baker with the Key to the City of Hickory, North Carolina
Background information
Born (1951-01-18) 18 January 1951 (age 73)
Origin London, England
Genres Pop, disco, library music
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active1968–present
LabelsMagnet/EPIC (1975–1979)
Polo Records (1980–1990)
ABP Records (1991–present)
Website AdrianBakerProductions.com

Adrian Baker (born 18 January 1951) is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer.

Contents

Career

Baker made his debut as a singer on Magnet Records/Epic Records in the United Kingdom. In 1975, he released his first solo album, Into a Dream (MAG 5009). From that album, he had one hit with "Sherry" a cover of the Four Seasons hit on the UK Singles Chart reaching No. 10 in July 1975, [1] and performed several times on the BBC Television's Top of the Pops programme. As a record producer, Baker is known for his dance hit productions with the group Liquid Gold. [2]

He twice attempted to write the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the A Song For Europe final in both 1979 and 1981. His first finalist song, "Miss Caroline Newley", performed by the band M Squad finished 11th of the 12 in 1979. But in 1981, his song "Don't Panic", performed by Liquid Gold, finished in second place and had the rare distinction of being a losing song from the A Song For Europe contest to make the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 42.[ citation needed ]

Baker, with his band Gidea Park, recorded a version of the Beach Boys "California Girls" for the James Bond film, A View to a Kill . It was featured in the opening sequence with Bond snowboarding. It has been suggested that this teaser sequence helped initiate interest in snowboarding. [3]

In the United States, he is best known for being the falsetto voice for the touring Beach Boys band from 1981 to 1982, 1990 to 1993, and 1998 to 2004. Baker was also a member of The Four Seasons with Frankie Valli from 1994 to 1995.[ citation needed ] In 2006, Baker released his sixth solo album, Runaway Tracks.[ citation needed ]

On 19 March 2011, Baker was presented with the Key to the City of Hickory, North Carolina, for his efforts raising money for education. Baker was Honorary Chairman of the Hickory Rotary Club's Rotarian Idol Education Scholarship competition for the second consecutive year. He is currently touring with the band Papa Doo Run Run.[ citation needed ]

Tenure

Discography

Albums

Singles

Other credits

Chart information

Solo releases

With Liquid Gold

All songs produced, arranged, written, and engineered by Adrian Baker

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References

  1. "Search | Official Charts". Officialcharts.com.
  2. "Adrian Baker Biography 1". Archived from the original on 28 July 2010.
  3. "Snowboard Club UK FAQs". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  4. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 125. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 40. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. 1 2 3 "Comprehensive Stats on the UK charts". Official Charts .