DON Baker is one of Irish music’s legends, a skillful singer/songwriter with a hugely impressive catalogue of work. He brings his live show to LIT’s Millennium Theatre on Friday June 19. At the tender age of 7, Don Baker was hospitalized with Tuberculosis. While in hospital he came upon a harmonica player and was instantly charmed by the instrument. Since then he has become one of the most renowned harmonica players in the world, rated as the very best by peers including Mark Feltham (Oasis, Joe Cocker and Rory Gallagher), Charlie McCoy and Bono.
Born in Whitehall, Dublin in 1950, Don then moved with his family to Dublin’s inner City at aged 11. He was frequently in trouble with the police and was in and out of prison until the age of 19. While in prison, he took up the Guitar and according to himself “never looked back”. In 1979 he was asked by the Late Late Show to write a song about inner city Dublin. Don wrote Dublin’s Inner City which became a huge hit for The Jolly Beggarmen reaching No. 1 in the Irish charts. He is the author of several instruction books on the harmonica, which are on sale in several languages and are distributed throughout the world, as well as five teaching videos. He also adjudicates bi-annually at the World Harmonica Championships in the blues category. Don’s acclaimed acting debut was in the film In the Name of the Father.
He featured in the role of Joe McAndrew, the head of the IRA in the prison where Gerry Conlon (the Guildford Four) was detained. The movie directed by Jim Sheridan, starred Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite. Don has since had many successful roles in films such as On the Nose (with Dan Ackryod and Robbie Coltrane) and Mystics (with Milo O’Shea and David Kelly). Most recently Don was scene on Irish TV screens as a participant in the RTE series, Failte Towers. Don charmed the Irish public, coming 3rd in the contest and raising a substantial amount of money for his chosen charity, Health Action Overseas. Don’s life has been both poignant and fast paced. Jackie Hayden, a director of Hot Press Magazine and Music Industry Consultant, has documented Don’s experiences in the biography The Winner in Me published by Marino Books / Mercier Press. Don’t miss Don Baker in the wonderful, intimate surrounds of LIT Millennium Theatre and enjoy an evening of music from one of the Ireland’s finest.
