Betty Jane Baker (née Phillips; May 6, 1927 – April 2, 2002) was a singer, songwriter and vocal contractor, who worked as a backup singer on recordings by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Righteous Brothers and Sam Cooke, among others. She also sang on the radio, with big bands and did voice work for television and films and appeared on television variety shows.
Baker was also well regarded as a vocal contractor for backup singers.[5]
Personal lifeedit
Baker was first married to Mickey Rooney (1920–2014) from 1944 to 1949; the couple had two children, Mickey Rooney Jr. (1945–2022) and Tim Rooney (1947–2006). She was later married to composer Buddy Baker from 1950 to 1957, and jazz guitarist Barney Kessel (1923–2004) from 1961 until their divorce in 1980.[6]
Deathedit
She died on April 2, 2002, at the age of 74, in Rancho Mirage, California, from complications following a stroke.[3]
Referencesedit
^"Miss Alabama History", Miss Alabama, accessed June 11, 2015
^"B.J. Baker: Backup singer who worked with Elvis, Sinatra, Cooke", Variety, April 14, 2002, accessed December 29, 2012
^ abcCromelin, Richard. "B.J. Baker, 74; Backed Top Singers of '50s, '60s", Los Angeles Times, April 13, 2002, accessed December 29, 2012
^B. J. Baker discography, Discogs.com, accessed December 29, 2012
^"B.J. Baker, 74, Backup singer on many popular '50s, '60s records", Chicago Tribune, April 14, 2002, accessed December 29, 2012
^"B.J. Baker, 74, a backup singer who worked on hits", Baltimore Sun, April 14, 2002, accessed December 29, 2012
Further readingedit
Bennett, James R. Historic Birmingham & Jefferson County: An Illustrated History, Historical Publishing Network, 2008
Marx, Arthur. The Nine Lives of Mickey Rooney (New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 1988 reprint)
Rooney, Mickey. Life Is Too Short (New York: Random House, 1991)
Summerfield, Maurice J. and Barney Kessel. Barney Kessel Jazz Legend (Ashley Mark Publishing, 2008 paperback)
baker, betty, jane, baker, née, phillips, 1927, april, 2002, singer, songwriter, vocal, contractor, worked, backup, singer, recordings, elvis, presley, frank, sinatra, bobby, darin, righteous, brothers, cooke, among, others, also, sang, radio, with, bands, voi. Betty Jane Baker nee Phillips May 6 1927 April 2 2002 was a singer songwriter and vocal contractor who worked as a backup singer on recordings by Elvis Presley Frank Sinatra Bobby Darin The Righteous Brothers and Sam Cooke among others She also sang on the radio with big bands and did voice work for television and films and appeared on television variety shows B J BakerBornBetty Jane Phillips 1927 05 06 May 6 1927Birmingham Alabama U S DiedApril 2 2002 2002 04 02 aged 74 Rancho Mirage California U S OccupationsSingersongwritervocal contractorYears active1944 2002SpousesMickey Rooney m 1944 div 1949 wbr Buddy Baker m 1950 div 1957 wbr Barney Kessel m 1961 div 1980 wbr ChildrenMickey Rooney Jr Tim RooneyMusical careerGenresPopInstrumentsVocals Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life and career editBorn in Birmingham Alabama Baker was Miss Alabama in 1944 as Betty Jane Rase and was 4th runner up in the 1944 Miss America Pageant 1 From the 1940s Baker sang in big bands and on the radio and in the 1960s she appeared in several television shows including the variety shows of Dean Martin and Judy Garland 2 She backed Elvis Presley in his recording of Can t Help Falling in Love Lloyd Price in Stagger Lee Sam Cooke in You Send Me Bobby Darin in Dream Lover Frank Sinatra in That s Life Jackie Wilson in Baby Workout The Righteous Brothers in You ve Lost That Lovin Feelin and Nancy Sinatra on her 1969 album Nancy 3 She recorded extensively with the Anita Kerr Singers 4 In addition to her studio singing Baker was the singing voice of Linda Low played by Nancy Kwan in the 1961 film version of Flower Drum Song 3 and also lent her voice to The Story of Babar the Little Elephant 1968 TV movie Babar Comes to America 1971 TV movie and Heidi s Song 1982 She sang two songs Won t You Come Home Bill Bailey and The Rockenschpeel Jingle as the character Wilma in the 2nd season The Flintstones episode The Happy Household citation needed Baker was also well regarded as a vocal contractor for backup singers 5 Personal life editBaker was first married to Mickey Rooney 1920 2014 from 1944 to 1949 the couple had two children Mickey Rooney Jr 1945 2022 and Tim Rooney 1947 2006 She was later married to composer Buddy Baker from 1950 to 1957 and jazz guitarist Barney Kessel 1923 2004 from 1961 until their divorce in 1980 6 Death editShe died on April 2 2002 at the age of 74 in Rancho Mirage California from complications following a stroke 3 References edit Miss Alabama History Miss Alabama accessed June 11 2015 B J Baker Backup singer who worked with Elvis Sinatra Cooke Variety April 14 2002 accessed December 29 2012 a b c Cromelin Richard B J Baker 74 Backed Top Singers of 50s 60s Los Angeles Times April 13 2002 accessed December 29 2012 B J Baker discography Discogs com accessed December 29 2012 B J Baker 74 Backup singer on many popular 50s 60s records Chicago Tribune April 14 2002 accessed December 29 2012 B J Baker 74 a backup singer who worked on hits Baltimore Sun April 14 2002 accessed December 29 2012Further reading editBennett James R Historic Birmingham amp Jefferson County An Illustrated History Historical Publishing Network 2008 Marx Arthur The Nine Lives of Mickey Rooney New York Berkley Publishing Group 1988 reprint Rooney Mickey Life Is Too Short New York Random House 1991 Summerfield Maurice J and Barney Kessel Barney Kessel Jazz Legend Ashley Mark Publishing 2008 paperback External links editBaker s IMDb profile B J Baker discography at Discogs B J Baker at AllMusic Early photo of Baker Photo of Baker with Rooney Photo of Baker in 1948 Extensive list of Baker s credits at Allmusic Baker at Artist Direct Baker at AlbumCredits com permanent dead link Awards and achievements Preceded byToula Hagestratou Miss Alabama1944 Succeeded byFrances Dorn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B J Baker amp oldid 1196767627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
