Abie "Available" Baker(néLeslie Robert Baker; September 28, 1913 – February 14, 1993) was an American session musician, arranger, and bandleader who played double bassonjazz, R&B, and pop recordings in New York City, from 1934 through the early 1960s. His credits have been chronicled under the names Abe Baker (rarely), Abie Baker (mostly), and Abie "Available" Baker.
In filmography, Baker, in 1959, performed on "The Web", an instrumental released on the small Laurel label which was later used as part of the score for the camp horror movieThe Brain That Wouldn't Die.[6]
In June 1965, Baker established two record labels, Internationale and Forest Green, both in New York.[7] He also established publishing companies. With Johnny Worlds, he established and headed Worlds-Baker Enterprises, covering several record labels, publishing, marketing and distribution.[8]
He died in Harlem, New York, on February 14, 1993, at the age of 79.
Some sources state that he was the father of guitarist Mickey Baker, with whom he played on sessions during the 1950s,[6] but this conflicts with other sources about Mickey Baker's parentage.[9]
^Record World (June 5, 1965). "New Forest Label"(PDF). p. 18. Retrieved December 17, 2020 – via Americanradiohistory.com; David Frackelton Gleason (born 1946), Cleveland.
^Hounsome, Terry, Rock Record: A Collector’s Directory of Rock Albums and Musicians, Enlarged, Revised, Expanded, Facts On File Publications, New York,1987 p. 119
^Coasters, The Ultimate Coasters, Warner Special Products, 1986, liner notes
^ Baker, LaVern, Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker, Atlantic Records, 1991 liner notes
^Selvin, Joel, Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues, Counterpoint, Berkeley, California, 2014, Bert Berns Discography pages
^ Brown, Ruth, The Very Best of Ruth Brown:50 Original R&B Classics, One Day Music, DAY2CD286 CD, 2015
