Kenny Baker (American performer)

Kenneth Laurence Baker (September 30, 1912 – August 10, 1985) was an American singer and actor who first gained notice as the featured singer on radio's The Jack Benny Program during the 1930s.

Kenny Baker
in the trailer for Stage Door Canteen (1943)
Born
Kenneth Laurence Baker

(1912-09-30)September 30, 1912
Monrovia, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1985(1985-08-10) (aged 72)
Solvang, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film, radio, stage actor and singer
Years active1933–1951

Film

Before he became a star, Baker sang as a member of the Vitaphone chorus at Warner Bros.[1]

At the height of his radio fame, and after leaving the Benny show in 1939 (succeeded by Dennis Day, whose tenor voice was very similar to Baker's), he appeared in 17 film musicals, including Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937), At the Circus (1939), and The Harvey Girls (1946). He also starred in the 1939 movie version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. He later co-starred with Mary Martin in the original Broadway production of Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash's One Touch of Venus (1943).

Radio

Baker first appeared on Jack Benny's weekly radio program on November 3, 1935,[2] having been hired to replace singer Frank Parker.[3] Parker had been very popular on the Benny program, and with his departure, it was widely believed that Benny would lose a large part of his audience; however, Kenny Baker is said to have won audiences over almost instantly, even surpassing Parker in popularity.[4] Baker portrayed a high-voiced, innocent young man on the show, who would frequently cause the Jack Benny character frustration with his "silly" remarks.

Baker's final regular appearance on Benny's radio show aired on June 25, 1939,[5] leaving the $3,000 per week job because he no longer wanted to play the character.[6] He was subsequently replaced by singer Dennis Day. After his four-year stint on the Benny program, Baker returned to radio as a regular performer on Fred Allen's Texaco Star Theater program (1940–1942). He was also heard on Blue Ribbon Town (1943–1944) and Glamour Manor (1945–1947). He had his own programs, the Kenny Baker Show (1954)[7] and Sincerely – Kenny Baker (1946).[8] The latter was syndicated by the Frederick W. Ziv Company via electrical transcription.[9]

Later years

After retiring from performing in the early 1950s, Baker became a Christian Science practitioner and motivational speaker and recorded a number of record albums of hymns for his church.

Death

Baker died of a heart attack in Solvang, California, August 10, 1985, aged 72.

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Radio Idol Kenny Baker InNew Film". Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. August 20, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved September 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Leff, Laura (2004): 39 Forever – Volume 1: Radio May 1932 – May 1942. p. 212.
  3. Fein, Irving A. (1977): Jack Benny – An Intimate Biography. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 64.
  4. Fein, Irving A. (1977): Jack Benny – An Intimate Biography. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 64.
  5. Leff, Laura (2004): 39 Forever – Volume 1: Radio May 1932 – May 1942. p. 363.
  6. Cohn, Art (November 1, 1943). Written at New York. "Kenny Baker's Gamble Removes "Jerk" Label". The Evening Tribune. Marysville, Ohio. International News Service. p. 1. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  7. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 Through 1960. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. pp. 19–20.
  8. "Kenny Baker and Donna Dae Star in WHP Musicale; Open Tuesday 6.15". Harrisburg Telegraph. April 6, 1946. p. 19. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "Ziv ad" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 17, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
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