Don Baker's harmonica (or harp) playing is influenced by blues players such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry. Don was also greatly influenced by Charlie McCoy, who has since become a friend and recorded the Don Baker composition 'Jordanna'. Don recorded the Charlie McCoy composition 'Funky Duck' on his album 'Miss You'.
Neye Benziyor?
Don learned blues guitar by listening to the great country blues players - Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, and Scrapper Blackwell.
Bonnie Raitt
Born with the Blues
Don Baker is a survivor. Desperate conditions during his 1950's childhood saw him hospitalised with Tuberculosis at age 7 and then drift into petty crime as a child and young adult which brought him in and out of remand homes until age 19. While in hospital Don came upon a harmonica player and was quickly charmed by the instrument. He then acquired a harmonica of his own and drove the matron crazy. It could be said that hospital introduced Don Baker to the harmonica; prison to the guitar and inner-city Dublin tenement life to the blues.
Don Baker was born in Whitehall, Dublin in 1950, into a dysfunctional family. Essentially abandoned and left to fend for himself, largely due to an alcoholic father it was not surprising that the young Don Baker drifted into petty crime, landing up in a remand home for a month at the age of 11. A few years later Don was incarcerated in St Conleth's Reformatory, Daingean run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Don was one of the first people to speak about child abuse (with Gay Byrne on a landmark RTE Late Late Show) and subsequently spoke openly about the horrific abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of the Oblate's who ran the notorious Daingean institution in Offaly in RTE's States of Fear (the programme that forced the Irish Government to make an unprecedented public apology on behalf of the State to the victims of this savage system). Frequently in trouble with the police, Baker was in and out of prison until the age of 19. While in prison, he took up the guitar and according to Don "never looked back". After prison Don lived in the Corporation Buildings in run down inner city Dublin where he was soon introduced to blues music.
Leaving Ireland for the continent of Europe aged 22, he travelled throughout Germany, Austria, Holland and France, playing all the while. He moved on to jazz and blues clubs and the odd support slot at a major concert, with the help of a newly acquired agent. Ten years was spent on the road, going from country to country. During this time he mostly lived on trains, and on people's floors. He began drinking excessively, probably using alcohol to dull repressed emotions dating from childhood. The drinking continued for many years until he finally sought help and at last kicked the booze habit.
In 1979 he was asked by one of Ireland's top TV shows, the Late Late Show, to write a song about inner city Dublin. Don wrote 'Dublin's Inner City' which became a huge hit for The Jolly Beggarmen reaching No. 1 in the Irish charts.
Baker has since built a wide reputation as a harmonica player. Mark Feltham (who has played with Oasis, Joe Cocker and Rory Gallagher) rates him as the greatest acoustic harmonica player in the world, as does Charlie McCoy and U2's Bono.
He is the author of several instruction books on the harmonica, which are on sale in several languages and are distributed throughout the world, as well as five teaching videos. He also adjudicates bi-annually at the World Harmonica Championships in the blues category.
Don Baker's harmonica (or harp) playing is influenced by blues players such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry. Don was also greatly influenced by Charlie McCoy, who has since become a friend and recorded the Don Baker composition 'Jordanna'. Don recorded the Charlie McCoy composition 'Funky Duck' on his album 'Miss You'.
A fine guitar player, Don learned blues guitar by listening to the great country blues players - Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, and Scrapper Blackwell.
Don's acclaimed acting debut was in the film "In the Name of the Father". He featured in the role of "Joe McAndrew", the head of the IRA in the prison where Gerry Conlon (Guildford Four) was detained. The movie, directed by Jim Sheridan, starred Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite. Don has since had many successful roles including "Mia" starring alongside Claudia Cardinale, "On the Nose" starring alongside Dan Ackryod and Robbie Coltrane and "Mystics" starring alonside Milo O'Shea and David Kelly.
Don's life has been both poignant and fast paced. Jackie Hayden, a director of Hot Press Magazine and Music Industry Consultant, has documented Don's experiences in the 'Best Sellers List' biography "The Winner in Me" published by Marino Books / Mercier Press. Jackie Hayden's last full-length work was "My Boy: The Philip Lynott Story", which topped the Irish book charts in 1996.
The International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza formed after Israel's 22-day assault on Gaza in winter 2008-09. We are a diverse coalition that represents all faiths (and no faith) and is focused on human rights in conformance with international law. *****To mark the fact that is has been one year since the Israeli attack, the coalition is mobilizing an international contingent for a nonviolent march alongside the people of Gaza on Dec. 31, to end the illegal blockade.***** The coalition conceives this march as part of a broader strategy to end the Israeli occupation by targeting nonviolently its flagrant violations of international law from the house demolitions and settlements to the curfews and torture. *****JOIN US ON THE GAZA FREEDOM MARCH December 27—January 2! *****This site is the only authoritative source of information on the Gaza Freedom March. ***** All those planning to join the march must sign up on this site.
Michael Brunnock will be performing with his Irish Band "Little Palace" November 5th 8pm Whelans, Dublin November 7th 9pm Headfort Arms, Kells, Co. Meath November 12th 8pm The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath Little Palace will be releasing their New Single "Beekeeper" from their latest album Invitation Time. We all hope to see you there. Keep Music Alive go hear a show.
Hi Don Baker Band, I Draw Slow are playing The Cobblestone, Smithfield in Dublin on Wednesday 24th June, supported by the amazing Thomas Kitt. Doors are at 8.30 and admission is €10, a small price to pay to see the citys two premier acoustic acts don't you agree? On the off chance you disagree, come down on wednesday next to the Cobblestone, Smithfield Dublin and we'd be happy to discuss it.
The Annesley House North Strand (Fairview) Dublin 3
The Hootenanny Launch Gig
2 Stages 7 Acts
Collaborations on the night from…
Matthew Devereux (from The Pale) Keiron Black (from The Amazing Few) Wally Page Stephen and Tony Boylan Mick Duffy and Niall O’ Shea Alan and Breda Trimble Q and more…
Kicks off at 8.30pm Admission: 5 Euro
Everyones welcome along-it's gonna be a great nite full of fun+frolicks, so come along+join us for lots of Hootenanny Maddness!!! Emma, Q and Co. at The Qube Studio:)
Hope you are SURVIVING these crazy economic times! Enjoy our new video "Whiskey Tonight" and stop by our site for a FREE download of the new song. Yes, something for FREE. Cheers!
FairplayCollective's Michael Brunnock has teamed up with his old band Little Palace and have just released a single entitled "Eviction" and can be down loaded at www.downloadmusic.ie
They have also released their third album called Invitation Time and is available in all good music stores.
Little Palace will be touring Ireland to support the release of their album and can be seen/heard at these venues.
March 29th CRANE LANE - CORK March 31st ROISIN DUBH - GALWAY April 1st DOLANS WAREHOUSE - LIMERICK April 3rd THE SPIRIT STORE - DUNDALK April 4th HEADFORT ARMS - KELLS April 7th WHELANS - DUBLIN April 9th THE BACKROOM - NAVAN
Howdie,
If you're knockin' around on Friday in Dublin, get down to the Lower Deck, Portobello and check us out. 4 other bands playing too - should be a good night, so hope to see you there.
Hi there Don Baker Band! I Draw Slow are playing Downstairs in Whelans on the 4th of Feb, we'll be supported by the amazing Blood Red Mountain Band which should make for an unforgettable night. Doors at 8, €10 on the night or tickets can be bought in advance from WAV tickets. Hope to see you there!
Hey Friends,
Let me take this moment to wish
you all a Happy Christmas and
here's to a better New Year.
I would also like to announce that
Michael Brunnock is to play 2 gigs
in Ireland just before the New Year.
27th Dec. 8pm The Village (26 Wexford St, Dublin)
supporting Mr North.
29th Dec 9pm The Railway Bar (Athboy Rd, Kells)
Please come and show Your support for LIVE music.
After several months writing and recording, The Cold 100 are finally ready to tread the boards over the month of December with the following gigs in Dublin City:
- 4th Dec: McGrudders, Thomas Street - 11th Dec: King Kong Klub, Pravda(b/side Ha'penny bridge) - 20th Dec: Cobblestone, Smithfield - 1st Village Green gig
Hopefully you can make it, and check out our stuff live!
Hello all, Anti War Photography Exhibition...New Photo Set Uploaded...
Enclosed in this set is a small selection from the anti war photography exhibition, 'Images of Resistance-inside and outside of Iraq.
This is currently showing in Dublin until further notice. Details on the poster in the photo set. Some of the images are from war zones and are quite graphic.
Online!
