Lee Muddy Baker
Encyclopedia
Lee "Muddy" Baker is a UK-based singer-songwriter, producer, performer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
, England where he attended Watford Boys' Grammar School. Having gained A-Levels in Art, Maths & Physics he went on to read Modern Art
at the Newcastle University, where he graduated in 1992. During his time at university, Baker formed and fronted his first band, called Cup of Sunshine.
and it was here that he truly focused on forging a career in the music industry, forming a new 4 piece band, Marbaker. The new band soon proved hugely popular on the live music circuit. It was not long before Marbaker was signed to Chrysalis Music
and toured the UK to promote the band's debut single "Hope You Find".
This first release received national radio airplay and the accolade of Melody Maker
s Single of the Week as voted by the band Gomez
. However, frustrated with the direction in which the band was going, Marbaker split up and the first album was never made.
's BBC Radio 1
Buzz Chart in the UK.
Baker continues to work for and with others; he produced an acoustic remix of the hit single "Borderline
" by Michael Gray
and wrote the score for an episode of BBC Four
's Arena series, celebrating 57 years of the BBC Radio 4
radio drama serial The Archers
— a testament to Baker's breadth of musical capabilities.
at the time the ex-front man of the band James
. The two formed a strong friendship based on a chance meeting in Brighton which ultimately led to the release of the highly acclaimed album Bone, which was produced by Baker and written by Booth, Baker and KK (Kevin Kerrigan)
. The album artwork was also created by Baker. The band was called "Tim Booth and the Individuals", and toured the UK and the US and received much radio airplay, including the UK's Virgin Radio
and BBC Radio 2
with Jonathan Ross
. The band also appeared on TV on BBC Three
and played to a packed crowd at the Glastonbury Festival
. The album, although highly acclaimed, never achieved commercial success, and the band have moved on to pursue their individual interests. Tim Booth had a small part in the film Batman Begins
and is writing a screenplay, but most notably is now back with James who announced their reformation in January 2007. Lisa Lindley Jones is embarking upon a solo career, and her first single "Firetime" was released in October 2006.
With James' reformation, Baker produced two new songs, followed by James's new album Hey Ma
, which was released on 7 April 2008. He sings backing vocals for James on Hey Ma and also does so on "Not So Strong", an additional track released via the James website in 2009.
He is now producing the follow-up mini-albums due in 2010.
Early years
Lee Baker grew up in WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, England where he attended Watford Boys' Grammar School. Having gained A-Levels in Art, Maths & Physics he went on to read Modern Art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
at the Newcastle University, where he graduated in 1992. During his time at university, Baker formed and fronted his first band, called Cup of Sunshine.
Marbaker
Baker left Newcastle to settle in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and it was here that he truly focused on forging a career in the music industry, forming a new 4 piece band, Marbaker. The new band soon proved hugely popular on the live music circuit. It was not long before Marbaker was signed to Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music is a British independent music publisher.The company's roots started in west London in 1967 when Chris Wright and Terry Ellis formed the Ellis-Wright Agency. It was formed to manage and book the bands Ten Years After, and Clouds. Ten Years After was managed by Wright, while Clouds...
and toured the UK to promote the band's debut single "Hope You Find".
This first release received national radio airplay and the accolade of Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
s Single of the Week as voted by the band Gomez
Gomez (band)
Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball , Paul "Blackie" Blackburn , Tom Gray , Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock . The band is distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments...
. However, frustrated with the direction in which the band was going, Marbaker split up and the first album was never made.
Performer, writer & producer
After the breakup of Marbaker, Baker continued to perform, write and produce new material both for himself, other artists, including Mo Solid Gold and Chung King, and for TV programmes and advertising. In a move away from the more soulful and hypnotic beats of Marbaker, Baker co-wrote, performed and produced a clutch of club tunes under the guise of "Special Unit". The most successful of these was "Sights on You" which was hugely popular on the UK and Miami club scene, reaching number 1 in Pete TongPete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Buzz Chart in the UK.
Baker continues to work for and with others; he produced an acoustic remix of the hit single "Borderline
Borderline (Michael Gray song)
"Borderline" is a single released by Michael Gray featuring Shelly Poole in 2006 by Eye Industries .-Song information:The song was released as Michael Gray's second single in mid-2006...
" by Michael Gray
Michael Gray (DJ)
Michael Gray is a British DJ and house music producer. He is also half of the dance music production/remixing duo Full Intention.-Career:Gray began his career as a British house DJ in the 1990s, and became in demand as a remixer, often with Jon Pearn under the name Full Intention, providing house...
and wrote the score for an episode of BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
's Arena series, celebrating 57 years of the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
radio drama serial The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
— a testament to Baker's breadth of musical capabilities.
Tim Booth & James
Baker teamed up with Tim BoothTim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
at the time the ex-front man of the band James
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
. The two formed a strong friendship based on a chance meeting in Brighton which ultimately led to the release of the highly acclaimed album Bone, which was produced by Baker and written by Booth, Baker and KK (Kevin Kerrigan)
KK (Kevin Kerrigan)
KK is a British based composer, record producer, and sound designer, best known for his work as a composer and producer in the field of contemporary / pop music. His past work includes with Brian Eno, Björk, Tim Booth, James, Dido, Natalie Imbruglia, James Newton Howard and others...
. The album artwork was also created by Baker. The band was called "Tim Booth and the Individuals", and toured the UK and the US and received much radio airplay, including the UK's Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
and BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
with Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross (television presenter)
Jonathan Stephen Ross, OBE is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting the BBC One chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross from 2001 until he left the BBC in 2010. Ross began hosting a new chat show on ITV1 starting 3 September 2011...
. The band also appeared on TV on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
and played to a packed crowd at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
. The album, although highly acclaimed, never achieved commercial success, and the band have moved on to pursue their individual interests. Tim Booth had a small part in the film Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
and is writing a screenplay, but most notably is now back with James who announced their reformation in January 2007. Lisa Lindley Jones is embarking upon a solo career, and her first single "Firetime" was released in October 2006.
With James' reformation, Baker produced two new songs, followed by James's new album Hey Ma
Hey Ma
Hey Ma is the tenth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on April 7, 2008.- Recording and production :...
, which was released on 7 April 2008. He sings backing vocals for James on Hey Ma and also does so on "Not So Strong", an additional track released via the James website in 2009.
He is now producing the follow-up mini-albums due in 2010.