Ginger Baker and Cream

This broadcast of AMPLIFIED is dedicated to Ginger Baker, who died on October 6th, 2019.

Ginger Baker was rock’s first superstar drummer and probably the most influential percussionist of the 1960s. Baker made his name entirely on his playing, initially as one of three virtuosos in Cream, but also well beyond that trio’s short 18 month existence. Though he was only a star for a period of about four or five years at the end of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s, since that time many drummers have been influenced by some aspect of Baker’s playing, often without even realizing it .

In this show you will hear a couple of songs from John Mayall & Blues Breakers, in which Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton played and from The Graham Bond Organization – Hoochie Coochie Man, in which Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce played.  Then some songs from Cream, where Ginger Baker was at his best in my opinion. Finally, there is some music from bands that Ginger Baker played in after Cream broke up.

Unfortunately, in this limited format it was not possible to do justice to Ginger Baker or the other members of Cream. This show provides only a snapshot of the journey of the band members of Cream from their rise to fame in the 60s to their break-up. It also only gives a few details of Ginger Baker’s life up until his journey to Lagos, Nigeria and does not tell of his life after that point.

Enjoy the show!