‘Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted’ is streaming, offering a glimpse inside the wildly creative, eccentric life of the soul-blues pioneer.
Author: Cary Baker
Cary Baker
Born on Chicago’s South Side, Cary Baker began his writing career at sixteen with a feature on street singer Blind Arvella Gray for the Chicago Reader. After decades directing publicity for six record labels—including Capitol and I.R.S.—and running two companies, he returned to writing. Baker has covered artists such as R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, The Smithereens, James McMurtry, The Mavericks, Bobby Rush, and Willie Nile. He has contributed to Chicago Reader, Creem, Trouser Press, Goldmine, and Billboard, written liner notes for historical reissues, and has been a voting member of the Recording Academy since 1979. In 2024, Jawbone Press published his book Down On The Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music, a collection of stories spotlighting street musicians across cities including Chicago, New Orleans, Venice Beach, and Dublin. He lives in Southern California.
‘King of Them All’ unpacks the pioneering label that gave the world James Brown, genre-crossing hits, and a behind-the-scenes story every music fan needs to see.
To mark Willie Dixon’s 110th birthday, retired music publicist and journalist Cary Baker offers a rare and personal tribute. From his early days as a Golden Gloves boxing champion to his pivotal role at Chess Records, Dixon’s songwriting and production helped elevate the careers of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Koko Taylor, and many others. Baker reflects on a remarkable friendship that began with a cold call in 1970 and grew into a decades-long connection with one of American music’s most influential figures.
In celebration of Blind Arvella Gray’s 119th birthday, author Cary Baker shares an exclusive chapter from his new book, ‘Down On The Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music,’ shedding light on Gray’s remarkable legacy.
For the artist who’d soon be known as Fantastic Negrito, busking was not a first step. It was a way to restore a sense of purpose following a disastrous major label experience and a debilitating accident. “There’s a lot of power not caring. not wanting things, and that’s how busking was for me.”
Author Cary Baker shares exclusively a chapter from his new book, ‘Down On The Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music.’
An interview with Bob Koester, conducted by Cary Baker circa 1982!
An interview with Bob Koester, conducted by Cary Baker circa 1982!
“I met Willie on many occasions — the first of which is when I cold-called him out of the Chicago phone book and asked him to come to my high school radio station.” Cary Baker