Billy Baker (7)

American bluegrass fiddler, born July 5, 1936 in Pound, Virginia. He is the third cousin of the late [a1288830]. In the early 1950s, he began playing professionally with local bands. He recorded with the Bluegrass Kinsmen, Kentucky Grass and Earl Taylor, who he worked with on WBMD Maryland in the early 1960s. In 1963, he joined Del McCoury and played on recordings made for Arhoolie Records. The following year he spent some time with Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys before relocating to Los Angeles, where he played on television with the Golden State Boys during 1965. In the mid-1960s, he worked briefly with Alex Campbell before returning to spend three more years with McCoury. He played on many artists’ recordings, and in 1968, he also recorded one side of Dobro And Fiddle, released by Rebel/County on their Zap label (the other side featured the dobro of Kenny Haddock). During the late 1970s, he became friendly with John Morris at Old Homestead and worked on recordings for that label, including recording fiddle albums with the Bluegrass Kinsmen and Kentucky Grass.