Butch Baker
Encyclopedia
Butch Baker is an American country music
artist. He recorded for Mercury Records
in the late 1980s, releasing multiple singles between 1984 and 1990, as well as the album We Will. His highest-peaking single, "That's What Her Memory Is For", peaked at #41 on the U.S. country charts in 1986.
. He first sang at nineteen months in his father's church. Taking influence from gospel music
as well as rock and country acts such as The Everly Brothers
, Elvis Presley
, Don Gibson
and others, he decided to pursue a musical career after graduating from Tennessee Military Institute
and majoring in drama at the University of Tennessee
.
Baker moved to Nashville, Tennessee
in 1979. There, he sold men's clothing during the day and attended various gigs at night, eventually being hired for one. Afterward, he went on to record demo
s, evnetually becoming a staff writer for Acuff-Rose Music
as well. In 1984, he signed to a recording contract with Mercury Records
. He released three singles for the label, including "Thinking 'bout Leaving", which peaked at #56 on the Billboard
country charts. After this song came his highest chart peak, the #41 "That's What Her Memory Is For." He continued to release singles through the 1980s, and was one of several guest vocalists on Hank Williams, Jr.
's 1987 single "Young Country" (from the Born to Boogie
album). However, his debut album, the Harold Shedd
-produced We Will, was not issued until 1990. This album included a cover version
of Eric Clapton
's "Wonderful Tonight
". That same year, he charted for the last time as a duet partner on labelmate Daniele Alexander
's "It Wasn't You, It Wasn't Me". This was from Alexander's second album, I Dream in Color, which included two other duets with him. After exiting Mercury in 1990, he became a regular on a video program for The Nashville Network
(now Spike TV
).
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. He recorded for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in the late 1980s, releasing multiple singles between 1984 and 1990, as well as the album We Will. His highest-peaking single, "That's What Her Memory Is For", peaked at #41 on the U.S. country charts in 1986.
Biography
Butch Baker was born in Sweetwater, TennesseeSweetwater, Tennessee
Sweetwater is a city in Monroe and McMinn counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the most populous city in Monroe County. The population was 5,586 at the 2000 census. Sweetwater is the home of the Craighead Caverns which contains the Lost Sea, the United States' largest underground...
. He first sang at nineteen months in his father's church. Taking influence from gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
as well as rock and country acts such as The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Don Gibson
Don Gibson
Donald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
and others, he decided to pursue a musical career after graduating from Tennessee Military Institute
Tennessee Military Institute
Tennessee Military Institute, also known as TMI Academy, began as Sweetwater Military College, founded by Presbyterian minister J. Lynn Bachman, and was located just outside Sweetwater, Tennessee. It closed in 1988. The buildings were later used by Tennessee Meiji Gakuin, a school intended for high...
and majoring in drama at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.
Baker moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1979. There, he sold men's clothing during the day and attended various gigs at night, eventually being hired for one. Afterward, he went on to record demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s, evnetually becoming a staff writer for Acuff-Rose Music
Acuff-Rose Music
Acuff-Rose Music was an American music publishing firm formed by Roy Acuff and Fred Rose in Nashville, Tennessee. Acuff-Rose's honest behavior towards their writers set them apart from other music publishing firms at the time and lead them to fame throughout the 50's, 60's, 70's.-History:Acuff-Rose...
as well. In 1984, he signed to a recording contract with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. He released three singles for the label, including "Thinking 'bout Leaving", which peaked at #56 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts. After this song came his highest chart peak, the #41 "That's What Her Memory Is For." He continued to release singles through the 1980s, and was one of several guest vocalists on Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Williams, Jr.
Randall Hank Williams , better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country...
's 1987 single "Young Country" (from the Born to Boogie
Born to Boogie (album)
Born to Boogie is a studio album by American country music artist Hank Williams, Jr. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in July 1987. The title track, "Heaven Can't Be Found" and "Young Country" were released as singles. The album reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and has been...
album). However, his debut album, the Harold Shedd
Harold Shedd
Harold Shedd is a music industry executive and producer, best known for his role as producer of the country group Alabama as well as Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Toby Keith...
-produced We Will, was not issued until 1990. This album included a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's "Wonderful Tonight
Wonderful Tonight
"Wonderful Tonight" is a song written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand and released as a single the following year. Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd, and it is mentioned in her autobiographical book Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me...
". That same year, he charted for the last time as a duet partner on labelmate Daniele Alexander
Daniele Alexander
Daniele Alexander is an American country music singer. She began her career as a teenager, performing jazz initially before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to sing in casinos. She also charted in the Top 20 on the Billboard charts with the single "She's There", a single from her 1989 Mercury Records...
's "It Wasn't You, It Wasn't Me". This was from Alexander's second album, I Dream in Color, which included two other duets with him. After exiting Mercury in 1990, he became a regular on a video program for The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
(now Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
).
Albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1989 | We Will
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 1984 | "Torture" | — | singles only |
| "Burn Georgia Burn (There's a Fire in Your Soul)" | 80 | ||
| "Thinking 'bout Leaving" | 56 | ||
| 1986 | "That's What Her Memory Is For" | 41 | |
| "Your Loving Side" | 53 | ||
| 1987 | "Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home" | 51 | |
| "I'll Fall in Love Again" | 60 | ||
| 1988 | "Party People" | 69 | We Will |
| 1989 | "Our Little Corner" | 64 | |
| "Wonderful Tonight Wonderful Tonight "Wonderful Tonight" is a song written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand and released as a single the following year. Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd, and it is mentioned in her autobiographical book Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me... " |
66 |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||||
| 1990 | "Tomorrow's World" | various artists | 74 | single only |
| "It Wasn't You, It Wasn't Me" | Daniele Alexander Daniele Alexander Daniele Alexander is an American country music singer. She began her career as a teenager, performing jazz initially before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to sing in casinos. She also charted in the Top 20 on the Billboard charts with the single "She's There", a single from her 1989 Mercury Records... |
56 | I Dream in Color |