School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

George Baker

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

George Baker is the stage name of Johannes Hans Bouwens, a Dutch singer and songwriter, born on 8 December 1944 in Hoorn. His father, the Italian former soldier Peppino Caruso, had been forced by the Germans to work in the area and was killed in an escape attempt a few months before his birth. Bouwens grew up with his mother and grandparents, from 1957 in Wormerveer. He left school at fourteen and worked unloading ships on the Zaan and later in a lemonade factory. In 1961 he took the pseudonym Body and formed Body and the Wild Cats.

Music and breakthrough

In 1968 he joined the soul band Soul Invention. In the summer of 1969 he wrote Little Green Bag with the bassist Jan Visser. In September 1969 the band recorded a first album and changed its name to George Baker Selection, after a character in a detective novel. Little Green Bag became a worldwide hit, reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than a million copies. Only when the second single Dear Ann was also a success did Baker quit his job at the lemonade factory. With his group he scored three international hits: Little Green Bag in 1969, Paloma Blanca in 1975 and Santa Lucia by Night in 1985.

Influence

After the group broke up in 1978, Baker performed solo, briefly returned in 1985 with a new Selection and went back to solo projects in 1989. As a solo artist he had released nine albums by 2017.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Little Green Bag and notice the vocals and the band. The song was written by Baker and Jan Visser in the summer of 1969.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: Artists