Chet Baker

born 23rd December 1929, died on the 13th May 1988

Chet Baker was a famous icon for jazz musicians. He was a trumpeter and a singer. In the 1950's, he rose to prominence as a leading name in cool jazz speciallising in relaxed, even melancholy music. He became famous in the pop world too with his good looks and intimate singing voice. In the 1960's however, his success was badly hampered by drug addiction and then imprisoned. His comeback came in the 1970's making him into a success once more but it suddenly ended in 1988 when he fell from a hotel window in Amsterdam