HE LEFT AN UNFORGETTABLE LEGACY…! – Heartbreaking reason behind Australian music historian Glenn A. Baker d*ad at 74
Veteran Australian rock historian, journalist and critic Glenn A. Baker has died at the age of 74, it’s been revealed today.
Baker’s death was announced on Facebook this morning by his friend, fellow journalist Stuart Coupe.
“This is a post that I was hoping I wouldn’t be making for a considerable period of time but after an illness Glenn A Baker passed away earlier this morning. I’m beyond sad,” Coupe wrote.
Baker had a career as a journalist and music historian spanning decades.
Baker, seen here at an event last year, had experienced a “period of illness.” Picture: Hanna Lassen/Getty
Baker’s son Orson confirmed his death on 702 ABC Sydney today, saying that his father had been “declining for a while” as he experienced a “period of illness”.
He said his father had been “somebody who absolutely grabbed life, throttled it, and did everything that he wanted to do”.
A prolific writer, Baker penned many books and magazine articles about his two special title three times, and later won the Australian Travel Writer of the Year award in 1995 and again in 2000.
Baker penned countless articles and books on his two special subjects: Music and travel.
Baker was also a regular TV talking head, waxing lyrical about rock music on programs like TheToday Show, Mornings With Kerri-Anne and 20 to 1.
Baker was a familiar face to many in the media and arts industries, appearing at industry events and red carpet premieres in his trademark distinctive headwear.
Baker’s admirers are today paying tribute to the much-loved music expert.
“Farewell Mr Music. What a fabulous life lived. His enthusiasm for all things music and sharing of his stories and knowledge will never be forgotten,” wrote one follower under Coupe’s post announcing his friend’s death.
“Glenn took Australian music seriously when very few others did. We all owe him for that,” read another social media tribute.
Here’s what Newscorp’s music writer Kathy McCabe had to say today about Baker’s enduring legacy in the Australian music industry…
‘Awestruck’: Baker’s incredible passion for music
Kathy McCabe
Baker didn’t just illuminate the history of music; he put his passion for the artform into backing artists he believed in as a manager and record label owner.
In 1975, when he was working as a media adviser of the NSW Postmaster-General’s Department, he took on the management of a workmate’s part-time 50s covers band called Fanis, put Frankie J. Holden in as lead singer and Wilbur Wilde as saxophonist and renamed them Ol’ 55.
Through the 70s, the band enjoyed a run of hits kicking off with On The Prowl, Looking For An Echo and the seasonal favourite (I Want A) Rockin’ Christmas.
Wilde credited his mate of 50 years as believing “in Ol’ 55 before just about anyone else” and shared he even helped co-write their songs.
Baker was a curator, historian, manager and label owner: His passion took him to every corner of the music business.
“He transformed Fanis into Ol’ 55, became our manager, recruited both Frankie J. Holden and me into the band, helped shape our image, and even co-wrote songs including the Christmas favourite “(I Want A) Rockin’ Christmas,” Wilde shared on Facebook.
“Without Glenn’s vision, passion and belief, my life could have taken a very different path…. I could have joined Little River Band… (that’s a joke between GAB and I).”
He went on to sign a struggling young band called The Spitfires a record deal in 1983 after “we were rejected by almost every other record company.”
“We were just a young band with not many chops but plenty of enthusiasm and we were thrilled that he liked our songs so much,” wrote frontman Ted Keeley in tribute to the late music industry giant.
“A few of us visited Glenn’s house and were just awestruck by his record collection and rock and roll knowledge. He was a great guy and years later I was always chuffed to say that for a while I was a mate of the Rock Brain of the Universe!”
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Baker was also an astute curator of music, adored by collectors for the back catalogue reissues and compilations he released via his Raven Records imprint.
Fans knew they could head to his Time Warp record store in Sydney’s CBD and spend hours combing the shelves for rare reprints of singles and albums by artists from The Beatles to Bon Scott.
He auctioned his vast collection of 50,000 records in 2014 for $314,000 to property developer and drummer Paul Lambess.
