Interview with Kenny Baker, June 24, 2005

Partial Transcript: Alright. Friends we are here today to, to interview a fellow that has done more for the Bluegrass fiddle than anybody that I know.

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about when and where he was born. He also talks about the Baker family tradition of fiddle playing.

Keywords: Bill Monroe (Artist); Burdine (Ky.); Fathers; Fiddle players; Fiddles; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Musical families; Square dances; Violin players; Violins; Weddings

Subjects: Bluegrass music--History and criticism.; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Fathers; Jenkins (Ky.); Letcher County (Ky.); Monroe, Bill; Monroe, Bill, 1911-1996; Music--History and criticism.; Musical families; Square dancing.; Violin; Violin music--History and criticism.; Weddings

Partial Transcript: Anyway, I am here to interview you, not me.

Segment Synopsis: Baker and the interviewer talk about their mutual history with Bill Monroe. He then discusses the reason why he left Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Baker also talks about Monroe’s demanding nature, which made him difficult to work with. Next, he tells the story of when he injured his hand, which kept him from playing the fiddle.

Keywords: Bill Monroe (Artist); Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (Artist); Brothers; Carolyn Monroe; Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys (Artist); Flatt, Lester (Artist); Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Howard “Cedric Rainwater” Watts (Artist); Injuries; Japan; Jemison (Ala.); Jerusalem Ridge (Song); Lester Flatt (Artist); Lexington (Ky.); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Monroe, Carolyn; Music--Anecdotes; Nashville (Tenn.); Robert Russell “Chubby” Wise (Artist); Tent shows; Touring; Travel; Watts, Howard “Cedric Rainwater” (Artist); Wise, Robert Russell “Chubby” (Artist)

Subjects: Bluegrass music--History and criticism.; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Brothers; Flatt, Lester; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Injuries; Japan; Jemison (Ala.); Lexington (Ky.); Monroe, Bill; Monroe, Bill, 1911-1996; Monroe, Carolyn; Music--History and criticism.; Music—Anecdotes; Nashville (Tenn.); Travel; Violin music--History and criticism.; Watts, Howard; Wise, Chubby

Partial Transcript: You started when he was in the Navy.

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about his early career playing with Don Gibson in Knoxville (Tenn.). They also discuss how they learned musical timing. Baker then talks about touring with Bill Monroe.

Keywords: Akeman, David “Stringbean” (Artist); Audrey Baker; Baker, Audrey; Baseball teams; Bill Monroe (Artist); Billy Croy (Artist); Burns, Kenneth C. “Jethro” (Artist); California; Croy, Billy (Artist); David “Stringbean” Akeman (Artist); Don Gibson (Artist); Earl Scruggs (Artist); Fiddles; Flatt, Lester (Artist); Fox hunting; Gibson, Don (Artist); Haynes, Henry D. “Homer” (Artist); Henry D. “Homer” Haynes (Artist); Holland Tunnel (Jersey City, N.J., and New York, N.Y.); Horses; Jamup and Honey (Artist); Kenneth C. “Jethro” Burns (Artist); Knoxville (Tenn.); Lester Flatt (Artist); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Music--Anecdotes; Scruggs, Earl (Artist); Tazewell (Va.); United States Navy; Violins; Wives

Subjects: Baseball; Bluegrass music--History and criticism.; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Burns, Jethro; California; Flatt, Lester; Fox hunting; Gibson, Don; Gibson, Don, 1938-2009; Haynes, Homer, 1920-1971; Holland Tunnel (Jersey City, N.J., and New York, N.Y.); Horses; Knoxville (Tenn.); Monroe, Bill; Monroe, Bill, 1911-1996; Music--Anecdotes; Music--History and criticism.; Scruggs, Earl; Tazewell (Va.); United States. Navy.; Violin; Violin music--History and criticism.; Wives

Partial Transcript: But we talking about you, I get off on the subject and I start running my mouth and I keep talking.

Segment Synopsis: Baker and the interviewer talk about their children, many of whom work in show business.

Keywords: Baker, Sonny (Artist); Brothers; Children; Families; Rock music; Sonny Baker (Artist); Sons; Wives

Subjects: Bluegrass music--History and criticism.; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Brothers; Children; Families; Music--History and criticism.; Rock music; Sons; Violin music--History and criticism.; Wives

Partial Transcript: It's been a pleasure sitting here talking to you, Kenny.

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about guitarist Jerry Douglas. He then discusses his unique style of fiddle playing, and talks about songwriting.

Keywords: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Banjos; Bill Monroe (Artist); Dobros; Douglas, Jerry "Flux" (Artist); Earl Scruggs (Artist); Fathers; Fiddle; Fiddle players; Fiddler’s Waltz (Song); Flatt, Lester (Artist); Forrester, Howard “Big Howdy” (Artist); Guitars; Howard “Big Howdy” Forrester (Artist); Jerry "Flux" Douglas (Artist); Lester Flatt (Artist); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Resonator guitar music (Bluegrass); Resonator guitars; Scruggs, Earl (Artist); Songwriting; Violin

Subjects: Banjo; Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music--History and criticism.; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Douglas, Jerry, 1956-; Fathers; Flatt, Lester; Forrester, Howdy, 1922-1987; Guitar; Monroe, Bill; Monroe, Bill, 1911-1996; Music--History and criticism.; Resonator guitar; Resonator guitar music (Bluegrass); Scruggs, Earl; Violin; Violin music--History and criticism.