RIP Craig Baker

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 11 Sep 2016 9:09 am

We lost a true friend of all of us in the steel guitar world this morning.

RIP. My friend

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 11 Sep 2016 9:17 am

I'm saddened to hear this. Boy, they keep dropping like flies.
Craig was a good friend to all steelers. RIP Craig

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 11 Sep 2016 10:11 am

I am stunned! Craig has been a friend for a long time now. Always taking time t0 call and check on me when I was in my time of need! A true friend and will be so terribly missed. My condolences to his family

Ken

James Marlowe · Post by **James Marlowe** » 11 Sep 2016 10:28 am

Oh no! A friend indeed! What happened?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Sep 2016 10:30 am

That was fast. We just had notice they were going to put him in hospice. I've known Craig since when he lived in Pennsylvania. RIP.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 11 Sep 2016 10:35 am

I'm stunned...Literally thought on Fri. that I hadn't heard from Craig in a while and that was odd. Made a note that I was going to call him Monday.
Peaceful sleep, my friend.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 11 Sep 2016 11:01 am

I, like everyone else, am stunned to say the least.
That was just way too fast.
Sorry to hear this news.
My condolences to his family & friends.
Ron

Buddie Hrabal · Post by **Buddie Hrabal** » 11 Sep 2016 11:04 am

What a shock to hear this news. I've known Craig for quite a while. Been using his "Lil'Izzy" since they first came out. First job I used it on was at the "Wild Times" lounge in St. Louis, after the convention party! Didn't know he was ill! Things will sound better in Heaven. RIP my friend.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 11 Sep 2016 11:45 am

Sad day. We talked on the phone so many times, about steel guitars, the Li'l Izzy, politics, God, you name it.

RIP on that high mountain in Heaven my friend. I'll catch up with you up there.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 11 Sep 2016 12:29 pm

Stunned is an understatement... Craig had called me just recently, and either didn’t know about his health situation or didn’t say, and I sure wasn’t able to detect anything in his voice... Craig was absolutely among the best, and someone you felt a kinship too just knowing him... This is a very sad day indeed.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 11 Sep 2016 2:25 pm

What a shock! Craig was always very attentive to customers of his great Izzy products, calling, emailing, and always had a great sense of humor. Had no idea he was ailing. RIP, brother Craig, we're all missing you already.

Anyone know if the products and company will carry on?

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 11 Sep 2016 3:13 pm

I can barely believe my eyes reading this. RIP Craig, a good man indeed and definitely a friend to all steel players.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 11 Sep 2016 3:40 pm

I'll miss Craig. I had no idea he had such severe health problems. RIP old friend.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Sep 2016 3:41 pm

I'm truly saddened to read the news. What a great person he was and I appreciate the phone calls he made to me and our correspondence. My condolences to Craig's family and friends.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 11 Sep 2016 3:42 pm

Craig was a real class act. We'll miss him.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 11 Sep 2016 4:01 pm

What a terrible shock - Craig called me last Sunday night to tell me he had been diagnosed with a liver mass. He also mentioned he wasn't ready for the forum to be aware yet, I think he was still in shock. He was a dear friend and true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, he shared his faith with me often. My deepest sympathies to his family, he will be sorely missed by those who had the honor of knowing him.

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 11 Sep 2016 4:08 pm

So sorry to read this. I always enjoyed the emails and forum exchanges we had. A good guy who will be missed.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 11 Sep 2016 4:33 pm

Very sad to hear about Craig, he was one of the good guys - RIP mate and condolences to the family

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 11 Sep 2016 5:14 pm

I am shocked to read this news. What a great guy Craig was. I bought my first Izzy in 1981 at the ISGC and another one two years ago. His contributions will be missed by many musicians.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 12 Sep 2016 3:47 am

What a terrible loss. We had a great evening with Craig and his wife and daughter at Wayne and Jeannie Smiths home in Georgia last year. Always quick with a joke, Craig jammed with Wayne and me and he played some great licks. He would call just to say hello. R.I.P. my friend. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Sep 2016 4:08 am

Oh no... so sorry to hear this sad news. I had just heard he was going to be entering hospice soon but I didn't know the end was this near. I will always remember him fondly. He would call me up, out of the blue, every few months just to chat about anything, or about some post on the Forum, etc. And he would mail me a bag of his favorite candy, Werthers. I will miss him and think of him, of course, every time I set up with my L'il Izzy in line. RIP, dear Craig and thank you for your friendship and for helping to make this world a little bit better.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 12 Sep 2016 4:30 am

He was a huge Charlton fan, and his prize possession was Buddy C.'s cowboy hat from the Texas Troubadour days.

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 12 Sep 2016 4:38 am

I am completely shocked to hear Craig has passed. Such a positive and kind man. RIP Craig and thank you...

John LeMaster · Post by **John LeMaster** » 12 Sep 2016 7:18 am

What very sad news to hear of Craig's sudden passing. My prayers for his family. He was a really good person.

Jack, I thought I was a big Buddy Charleton fan until I met Craig! When I learned just what a fan of Buddy's he was, I presented him with Buddy's dark green hat from the Troubadour days. (A good friend of Buddy's had given it to me some years earlier.)

Craig and I had many phone conversations, and I was privileged to meet and have dinner with him, his wife, and daughter, in McDonough, GA on the way to a show once.
Rest in peace, Craig.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 12 Sep 2016 8:02 am

Getting emails from Craig was like talking to a friend in one's living room. Ironically, I never used his Little Izzy but ordered two this summer and took one back to China. I will call it "BAKER"

Where was. Craig from in Pennsylvania?

Condolences to the family and friends.

The Steel Guitar Forum

RIP Craig Baker

RIP Craig Baker

Rest in Peace