Unknown Hinson

Stuart Daniel Baker, born November 7, 1954, better known by his stage name Unknown Hinson, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and voice actor.[2][3] He was the longtime voice of Early Cuyler in the adult animated sitcom Squidbillies.

Unknown Hinson
Unknown Hinson performing in 2010
Unknown Hinson performing in 2010
Background information
Birth nameStuart Daniel Baker
Born (1954-11-07) November 7, 1954
OriginAlbemarle, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • voice actor
Years active1992–2023 [1]
LabelsUniphone, Capitol, Coffin Case
Formerly ofThe Boxmasters

Biography

Stuart Daniel Baker, a music teacher and studio musician from Albemarle, North Carolina, created his alter-ego for The Wild Wild South, a Charlotte-area public-access program that featured comedy sketches and concert footage. Baker and co-star Don Swan played the characters of Unknown Hinson and Rebel Helms, respectively. After Swan's death in 1995, Baker created The Unknown Hinson Show, a direct spin-off of The Wild Wild South. The Unknown Hinson Show won Creative Loafing Charlotte's "Best Of" poll for Best Public-Access Television Show four years in a row.[4] After the series ended, Baker continued in his role as Unknown Hinson, performing live concerts and releasing several recordings.

Career

Live performing career

Hinson has performed with many notable rockabilly, country, and psychobilly acts such as The Reverend Horton Heat, Marty Stuart, Hank III, and Ed King. Hank III, grandson of Hank Williams, has Hinson's face tattooed on his bicep.[5] In late 2008, working under his real name of Stuart Baker, Hinson was hired to play bass as well as lead guitar in Billy Bob Thornton's band The Boxmasters. For this gig, Baker appears without the familiar Unknown Hinson wardrobe and makeup, instead appearing in a vintage '60s suit, white shirt, and black pencil tie. His manager and booking agent was his wife, Margo Baker.[6][7]

According to a November 10, 2012 post on his Facebook page, Hinson decided to quit touring after 17 years. His last three shows were Fort Wayne, Indiana, on November 17 in Covington, Kentucky. He cited rising costs and indicated his plans to find something new to do. After the death of his wife, Margo Baker, Unknown Hinson resumed touring again.[8]

On June 3, 2020, Baker announced on his Facebook page that he would not be playing any more shows due to osteoarthritis.[9] On July 17, 2023, he announced the following on his Facebook page:

Stuart Daniel Baker a/k/a "Unknown Hinson" is walking the long road back to recovery after suffering two strokes. Baker, professional Guitarist and songwriter, was stricken by a small stroke which caused no debilitating damage four days before Easter Sunday 2023.  Released from the hospital on Easter Sunday, he was struck again by a much larger stroke which caused more significant nerve damage to the left side of his body.  Baker then spent four weeks in the medical hospital and physical therapy hospital.  Discharged May 9th 2023, Baker attends weekly out patient therapy sessions and continues to improve his strength and skill for playing the Guitar.[10]

Recording career
Hinson in 2009

Unknown Hinson wrote his own music, and produced all of his own recordings. His music often parodied the dark elements of contemporary country and redneck culture. In early 2009, Hinson's "Torture Town" won in The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards and Vox Pop vote for Best Alternative Country.

Voice acting career

Hinson, credited as Baker, provided the voice of Early Cuyler, a balding hillbilly squid from Georgia, on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim program Squidbillies for 15 years.[11]

Dolly Parton comments

On August 13, 2020, Baker received backlash after posting controversial remarks about Dolly Parton, calling her a "bimbo" and "slut" on his Facebook page in response to a recent news article concerning Parton's support of the Black Lives Matter movement.[12] Not long after this post, the Facebook page went offline, but returned on the following day with the posts concerning Parton removed. Baker subsequently posted a response to those who were upset, saying "Leave Liberals", calling them "UN-AMERICAN", stating that they "bow down to the ALL-KNOWING-MINORITY", and telling them to have fun "forsaking your own race, culture, and heritage."[12]

The producers of Squidbillies fired Baker from the series over his remarks.[11] Reverend Guitars of Ohio abruptly stopped marketing their Stuart Baker signature series guitars on August 14, 2020, and posted, "we are no longer associated with Unknown Hinson. We have stopped production on his guitars and we have removed him from our website."[13]

Works

Discography
Year Album Label
1999 The Future Is Unknown Uniphone Records
2002 Rock 'N' Roll Is Straight from Hell (Promo Release) Capitol Records
Rock 'N' Roll Is Straight from Hell (Main Release) Capitol Records
2004 The Future Is Unknown (Re-Release) Capitol Records Nashville
Selections from the Future Is Unknown (Promo Release) Capitol Records Nashville
2005 21 Chart Toppers (Promo Release) No Label
2006 Target Practice Coffin Case Records
2008 Live and Undead Uniphone Records / sdb Music
2012 Reloaded Uniphone Records / sdb Music
The Squidbillies Present Music for Americans Only Made by Americans in China for Americans Only God Bless America, U.S.A.[lower-alpha 1][14] Williams Street Records
2020 Live and Undead II Uniphone Records
  1. Credited on this album as both Unknown Hinson and Early Cuyler, the character he voiced on Squidbillies

Filmography
Year(s) Production Role(s) Other notes
2004Anime Talk ShowEarly CuylerTV special
2005–2019SquidbilliesEarly CuylerLead
2010Carl's Stone Cold Lock of the Century of the WeekEarly CuylerGuest, 1 episode

References
  1. Rich, Jonathan (October 27, 2006). "The weird, wicked world of Unknown Hinson". Hendersonville Times-News.
  2. "Squidbillies Characters". AdultSwim.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  3. "It's good to be King: Unknown Hinson is a legend of his own making". TheDailyTimes.Com. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  4. "Into the Unknown | Asheville Arts and Entertainment | Mountain Xpress". Mountainx.com. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  5. "Inside the Heathen Mind of Hank III: An interview with country music's self-exiled prince". Boise Weekly. August 9, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  6. "Margo Elizabeth Cogan Baker Obituary: View Margo Baker's Obituary by Charlotte Observer". Legacy.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  7. "Unknown Hinson: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  8. "Home". Unknown Hinson. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  9. Hinson, Unknown (June 3, 2020). "My dear friends, Unfortunately I don't..." Facebook.com.
  10. Facebook post from July 17, 2023
  11. Yasharoff, Hannah (August 19, 2020). "'Squidbillies' star Unknown Hinson fired over 'extremely offensive' posts about BLM, Dolly Parton". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. Andrew, Stephen (August 19, 2020). "Unknown Hinson, 'Squidbillies' Star, Goes on Tirade About Dolly Parton's Black Lives Matter Support". Pop Culture. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  13. Clodfelter, Tim (August 14, 2020). "Unknown Hinson in hot water over Dolly Parton comments". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  14. The Squidbillies Present Music for Americans Only Made by Americans in China for Americans Only God Bless America, U.S.A. official soundtrack free download from Adult Swim
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