Wallace Baker

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 11 Jun 2010 4:35 am

Lead/steelman Wallace Baker passed away, Wednesday, June 9th at a hospital in Florida. He reportedly had a heart attack while on the beach in Florida, Sunday, June 6th. He was put on life support but never recovered. Rest in peace my friend. Myself and many, many Mississippi players learned the ropes from WB, as far as working clubs, etc. He'll be missed. May God bless his girls and family.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 12 Jun 2010 10:37 pm

Wallace had a club in Hattiesburg in the late 1980s, and he kept a little good-sounding single neck Mullen on stage. He was even indulgent enough to let a complete beginner sit in a little.

Sorry Wallace is gone. If a clean beach was the last thing he saw, though, he might be luckier than most.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 13 Jun 2010 11:16 am

Club was "The Hop" in Hattiesburg. Featured many acts like Gene Watson, David Allen Cole and many others. Mullen was a black mica S-10D. He sold it and moved up to the universal guitars from there. Early 80's we were all at "Papa Joe's" club in H'burg. He left and opened "The Hop". "Papa Joe's closed and then reopened as the "Silver Saddle" club. I spent 9 1/2 years there as the staff steelman. We were all a lot younger back then! Oh yes, the first act from Tennessee at the SSC was Randy Travis. He had released his 1st #1.

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 13 Jun 2010 2:47 pm

I remember Wallace from "Ms Janes" old El Agave club on West Pine. I would stop by and sit in occasionally. What ever happened to B.C. Duett and that crowd? There used to be a good steel picker down that way... Robert Putnam. I remember playing a lot down in that area frequently. There was Tals' Corral, North gate, Jimmy Faughns, EJ's at the Ramada Inn. I even did a stint down at the Hi Hat in Palmers' Crossing..... and a few others down on the coast.... mostly all gone now I guess.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 14 Jun 2010 5:05 am

Well, Northgate is the only one still open. I think they rotate R & R bands weekly. BC Dueitt is playing on Saturday nights at the Petal American Post. Robert attended our 1st MSP Show in 2007. I hadn't seen him or heard from him since. In 1980 myself, BC, Yancey Prine and a female singer, Lynn Powell had a band together and we played just up the hill from WB when he was at the El Gava. That's how we met WB. We'd go down and set in with him and his band. From there, Papa Joe's, Silver Saddle, The Hop and an after hours club(Lakeside) opened down on 49-South(Flea market now) throughout the years. WB and myself developed a friendship in 1980 and it lasted until he passed. He'd call me about once a year, just out the blue. I went to his home in Hattiesburg sometime last year and bought a steel guitar(14 string Sierra). I've always said there were three leadmen in Mississippi that were and are the best anywhere. Wallace Baker, Wayne Gray and Bob Saxton. At our next Ms. Steel Players Show(MSP) in Laurel,Ms. I plan on having WB's oldest daughter and family attend and accept our MSP Appreciation Award in honor of Wallace. Our MC - Wayne Gray will present the plaque to the family to be displayed from now on in there home. Next MSP show will be sometime in May 2011. Date is not set yet. WB was very special.

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 14 Jun 2010 2:06 pm

Billy, a lot of those names seem very familiar. I played around the "Burg" for awhile and finally ended up on the Coast doing the Upstairs Downstairs, Dock of the Bay, Shy-Anne, Sandpiper etc. Good times back in the early 80's. I had gravitated down that way from Montreal. I ended up working with a lot of really great folks, John Gower, Terry Lee, Bobby Pickett.... the list goes on. I really enjoyed Mississippi and the folks down that way.
In any event I am sorry for the loss of your good friend. I did not know him that well, other than to stop by and sit in, but he was always cordial and very friendly to me.
My condolences to his family and loved ones in that area.
gary

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 30 Nov 2010 8:02 am

received via email:

There was an article posted in June of Wallace Baker's death. There needs to be a correction, it mentioned condolences to his daughters, but it should also read, he has 2 sons, Aaron Baker age 21 and Justin Baker age 16, along with the 4 daughters. Please make proper corrections. Also, is ther going to be a recognition of his talent at a Steel Players Convention in Laurel Ms. soon?

Thanks so much

Vivian Boyington

Maybe someone can answer her question.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 3 Dec 2010 12:10 pm

The date for the next Mississippi Steel Players Club Show has not been determined yet. I'll have a special dedication to honor Wallace during the show. I was only aware of two daughters he had at the time of his passing. Wallace touched many, many players and singers over the years while here in Mississippi. He's gone but not ever forgotten. He left a piece of himself with a lot of folks including myself. More later. Thanks.

Billy H. Carr
MSP President
Est. 2006

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Wallace Baker - RIP

Wallace Baker - RIP

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