John Baker

Working as a studio producer and songwriter in LA I gradually transitioned into recording and mixing albums. I learned the art of making records at The Annex Studio in Burbank, CA under the tutelage of Motown recording engineer Dan Bates. The Annex Studio evolved from music to movies and with it I was transformed from music engineer to post production editor and sound designer, with a new appreciation for black coffee. 

The features ""Corndog Man"" on the Sundance Channel and ""Free Enterprise"" starring William Shatner are two of my more notable credits as a dialog editor. While recording dialog for animation, I also had the pleasure of pushing the big red button for some of the best voice talents in the business like Billy West (Renn & Stimpy and the Red M&M), Maurice LeMarche (“The Brain” from Pinky and the Brain) and Tom Kenny who is (Spongebob Squarepants). 

The transition from studio recording to live performance mixing happened as a result of co-producing, recording and mixing two hit albums for J-Pop mega star Junko Yagami. I was tasked with mixing FOH for her in Japan 1997. Since then, with the exception of a few occasional recording projects, I have worked steadily with live music production almost exclusively.

 
Career highlights

John A. Baker spent most of the early and mid nineties as a recording engineer, producer and post-production sound editor. It was his introduction to Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist Norman Brown by the outstanding Grammy nominated keyboardist Gayle Jhonson, who was and still is Mr. Brown’s musical director, that led to an almost ten year run as his engineer and tour manager. After leaving Norman Brown, Mr. Baker went on to work with many of the top contemporary jazz artists of our time including Gerald Albright, Wayman Tisdale, Rick Braun, Paul Taylor, Michael Lington and Down to the Bone to name a few. 

In 2008 John expanded his horizons by touring with Disney artist Corbin Bleu of “High School Musical” fame. In the past few years alone John has toured with such varied artists as Grammy Award winning R&B diva Chrisette Michelle, the one and only Mr. Jermaine Jackson and the dynamic Afropean Pop duo Les Nubians. Currently Mr. Baker splits his time working as the production manager for the iconic Grammy Award nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright and the great Grammy Award winning and Oscar nominated Brazilian icon and bandleader Sergio Mendes as well as tour managing and mixing for the world fusion jazz super group Tizer featuring keyboard prodigy Lao Tizer, violin virtuoso Karen Briggs (Yanni, Stanley Clark, Soul to Soul) and acclaimed guitarist Chieli Minucci founder of the dynamic contemporary jazz group Special FX. 

He also gets called upon to work with the Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Rita Coolidge and the legendary seven time Grammy Award winning duo Marilyn Mc Coo and Billy Davis Jr. (formally of the 5th Dimension). In addition to all of this, John presently tours as the front of house mix engineer for The Legendary Jacksons as well as Rock & Roll hall of fame songwriter, producer and guitarist, Al McKay (original member Earth Wind and Fire) who performs extensively around the world. 

Favorite DPA Microphones

1. 4099 for live miking of a horn section
2. d:facto™ Vocal Mics