Ginger Baker was born as Peter Edward Baker on the 19th August 1939 in Lewisham, South London, England. He is best known for being a drummer, considered to be one of the best drummers of all time , andperhaps most recognized as the founder of the rock band called Cream. His career has been active since 1956.
Have you ever wondered how rich is Ginger Baker? According to sources, it is estimated that Baker’s overall net worth is over $1 million, an amount acquired through his career in the music industry, during which he has released several albums with his band. During his career, he has collaborated with many musicians, like Fela Kuti, Bill Laswell, Charlie Haden, among others. Thanks to his skills, Baker has performed with a number of bands, which has also added to his net worth. Another source of income is coming from selling his autobiographical book.
Ginger Baker Net Worth $1 Million
Ginger Baker was born to Frederick Louvain Formidable Baker, who was a bricklayer but died in the Dodecanese Campaign while serving in the Royal Corps of Signals during World War II, and his wife, who worked in a tobacco shop. At the age of 15, Baker started playing the drums, and his first teacher was Phil Seamen, a jazz drummer. Thanks to his talent, he quickly became popular, as a member of The Graham Bond Organisation, which was an R’n’B/blues band.
Before Cream, Ginger became friends with Jack Bruce, and although the two often argued they still managed to play together. In 1966, Ginger and Eric Clapton formed the rock band named Cream, joined by Jack Bruce. The band was short-lived, but it released four studio albums, and received positive critiques. Their first album was released in 1966, entitled “Fresh Cream”, and reached gold certification, debuting in 39th place on the US Billboard 200 chart. The second album came out the next year, entitled “Disraeli Gears”, reaching platinum certification, which increased Ginger’s net worth to a large degree. The album also debuted at the No. 4 on the Billboard top 200 chart.
Before their disbandment in 1969, the band released two more albums, “Wheels OF Fire” (1968), which became their only album to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard top 200 chart, and reached platinum certification by the RIAA, spawning hits such as “Born Under A Bad Sign”, and “White Room”. Their last album was released in 1969, entitled “Goodbye”, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard 200, but it topped the charts in the UK; both albums reached platinum certification, further increasing Ginger’s net worth.
After Cream, Ginger and Clapton formed another band named Blind Faith, with Steve Winwood as a singer and Ric Grech as a bass player. However, they released only one album before they broke up. Afterwards, Baker formed his own group – Ginger Baker’s Air Force – releasing two albums and increasing further his net worth.
During the 1980s, Baker was a part of a few bands such as Masters of Reality, and Hawkwind, but with no success. In the 1990s he was a part of the trio BBM, consisted of Baker, Jack Bruce and Gary Moore, but it lasted for only a short time. In 2005, he joined Clapton and Bruce for a concert tour at Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden, which was recorded and released as the live album “Royal Albert Hall London May 2–3–5–6 2005” (2005).
Most recently, he has created a jazz quartet, which consists of himself, Pee Wee Ellis on saxophone, Alec Dankworth as bassist and Abass Dodoo as a percussionist. They managed to sign with the Motema Music, and they are currently working on their first album, which will certainly increase Ginger’s net worth.
Speaking about his personal life, Ginger Baker is known in the media as a troublesome person, who like many musicians of his era was drug addicted, which no doubt restricted consistent success. He has married four times, lastly to Kudzai Machokoto, from Zimbabwe in 2010. Additionally in 2012 the documentary movie about his life entitled “Beware Of Mr. Baker” was released, directed by Jay Bulger; the movie won the award for best documentary feature.
A really good band with a bad drummer is not a good band. A really bad band with a good drummer sounds better.
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[About Cream's first single] 'Wrapping Paper' is the most appalling piece of shit I've ever heard in my life.
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Living in L.A. [in the 1980s] was quite hard for a former heroin addict. It's the smack capital of the world!
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Cream was doomed three months after it started [in 1966.] It was my band, and Jack Bruce tried to fire me! I didn't get any of the writing credits. It will piss me off for the rest of my life.
5
One day [while drumming with Blues Incorporated in 1962] this effeminate little kid [Mick Jagger] showed up, and I hated him. He was a musical moron! Alexis Korner asked me to give Jagger a chance to sing during the interval. But the interval was when I would go and have my fix! Me and Jack Bruce picked on him, throwing in jazz licks to confuse him.
6
People say Cream gave birth to heavy metal. If that's so, we should have had an abortion.
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If you have a drug problem, Los Angeles is not the place to be. It used to be that I would hit L.A. straight and in 24 hours somebody would lay something on me.
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[on his second marriage in 1982]: She got bored with farming [in Italy] and me being straight. Without drugs, I guess I'm not as exciting.
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[on his days with Blind Faith]: I got messed up with drugs again and had a long holiday to get straight. When I got back to England, Steve Winwood told me Eric Clapton had run off to form Derek and the Dominos.
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God is punishing me for my past wickedness by keeping me alive and in as much pain as he can.
11
I got involved with drugs for the music. I took some smack, and people told me, 'You play incredible.' So I took smack before every gig. Soon I was having trouble making enough money to feed my wife and baby. I'd turn up to a gig stoned and they'd say, 'What are you doing?' I'd tell them, 'I'm taking smack,' and they'd fire me. I used to think they were idiots. And this happened continually.
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We were very poor. My mother worked in a tobacco shop to support my sister and me. I didn't get my first drum kit until I was 16.
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I've used speed occasionally but never liked the effect.
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People always put me as the drummer in the Dead Band with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. What people didn't know was that until 1964, I was getting high and thinking it was wonderful. After that, I was trying to quit.
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Fact
1
He stopped playing the drums for some physical pains.
2
Father of daughters 'Ginette Baker (I)' and Leda Baker.
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Eric Clapton served him his very first French toast while discussing forming Cream.
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He co-wrote the Cream hit "Sweet Wine" with Janet Godfrey, who was, at the time, Jack Bruce's wife.
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_Cream: Royal Albert Hall 2005 (2005) (V)_ was the first time Cream had played together since their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Cream) in 1993.
8
Drummer for the Cream.
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Nicknamed 'Ginger' because of his hair.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Helix
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
Sushi Girl
2012
as Peter Edward Baker, "Toad"
Beware of Mr. Baker
2012
Documentary performer: "Da Da Man" written by nm6135723, "Ariwo" written by nm0048486 as Peter Edward Baker & nm1324034 as Fela Ransome-Kuti, "Tiwa It's Our Own" written by nm1324034, "Mountain Time" written by nm0048486 as Peter Edward Baker, "Dangle The Carrot" written by nm0048486 as Peter Edward Baker, "Coward of the County" written by nm1713402 & nm2127675 as Billy Wheeler
No me la puc treure del cap
2010
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Once I Was
2010
writer: "Sunshine of Your Love"
Great Performances
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2005 writer - 1 episode, 2005
How to Draw a Bunny
2002
Documentary performer: "Straight, No Chaser" - as Ginger Baker Trio
Casino
1995
writer: "Those Were The Days" / writer: "Toad" - as Peter Edward Baker
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Nasty Boys
1990
TV Series
Wetstone's Henchman
Gonks Go Beat
1965
Drummer
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Great Performances
2005
TV Series 1 episode
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mondialito
2000
musician: drums
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Omnibus
1973
TV Series documentary producer - 1 episode
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fresh Cream - Live
1993
Video documentary archive material
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
All You Need Is Love
1977
TV Series documentary the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
White Rooms and Imaginary Westerns
2015
Documentary post-production
Himself
Suburban Steps to Rockland: The Story of The Ealing Club