Edythe Baker

A talented but now obscure classically trained pianist, Edythe Baker moved to New York City in late 1919 and made a series of piano rolls for the Aeolian company during the next six years that ranged from ragtime to melodic pop tunes of the day (such as "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "Sweet Man"). Her strong technique and sense of swing make these rolls (some of which were reissued on a Folkways LP in 1983) come alive. Baker performed in vaudeville with the Ziegfeld Frolics and was featured on Broadway in musical comedies. In 1927 she moved to England, where she appeared in a revue and recorded 22 selections on records during 1927 and 1931-33. After marrying a member of a prominent British banking family, Baker settled in England and eventually gave up playing. After World War II, Edythe Baker returned to the U.S., ending up as a piano teacher in Wurstboro, New York. ~ Scott Yanow