Fiddler Kenny Baker – Stroke Victim!

Kenny Baker, best known for his 25 year tenure as a “Bluegrass Boy” with Bill Monroe and often unofficially credited with the actual composition of some of Monroe’s biggest instrumental hits has suffered a stroke, which has affected the left side of his body. Baker is currently hospitalized. He has slurred speech but other details are not yet known.
You may send cards & flowers to:

Kenny Baker
c/o Sumner Regional Medical Center
555 Hartsville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066-2400

Baker served more years in Monroe's band than any other musician and was selected by Monroe to record the fiddle tunes passed down from Uncle Pen Vandiver. After leaving the Bluegrass Boys in 1984,Baker played with a group of friends, Bob Black, Alan Murphy, and Aleta Murphy. Bob Black and Alan Murphy recorded and album with Baker in'73, Dry & Dusty. After the one summer with Black and the Murphy's Baker teamed with Josh Graves who had played dobro for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs as a Foggy Mountain Boy. Baker teamed with Graves until Graves' death in 2006.

Baker is considered to be one of the most influential fiddlers in bluegrass music. His "long-bow" style added a smoothness and clarity to the fiddle based music of his boss, Grand Ole Opry member Bill Monroe. His long tenure with Bill Monroe included banjo player Bill Keith's development of the "melodic" method of banjo playing that included note for note representations of fiddle tunes on the banjo.

For more information on Strokes contact the American Stroke Foundation