Lennie Baker
Encyclopedia
Lennie Baker was born on April 18, 1946, in Whitman, Massachusetts
. He is a former saxophone
player for the 1950s rock group, Danny and the Juniors.
Baker went on to become a member of the musical group Sha Na Na
, doing vocals and playing sax. He toured with the group, performing at the Woodstock Festival
in 1969, and appeared with them on the television series, Sha Na Na
, which aired from 1978-1981. He was also in the movie Grease
with them, singing lead on the song, Blue Moon
. He appeared in several other movies with the group, as well.
Baker attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts where he joined Phi Kappa Tau
Fraternity.
in Massachusetts, but still performs in concert on occasion, as of August 2007.
Whitman, Massachusetts
Whitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,489 as of the 2010 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented....
. He is a former saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player for the 1950s rock group, Danny and the Juniors.
Baker went on to become a member of the musical group Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
, doing vocals and playing sax. He toured with the group, performing at the Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
in 1969, and appeared with them on the television series, Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na (TV series)
Sha Na Na is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications. Sony Pictures Television currently...
, which aired from 1978-1981. He was also in the movie Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
with them, singing lead on the song, Blue Moon
Blue Moon (song)
"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
. He appeared in several other movies with the group, as well.
Baker attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts where he joined Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
Fraternity.
Where he is now
Baker retired in 2000 to Martha's VineyardMartha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
in Massachusetts, but still performs in concert on occasion, as of August 2007.
Movie appearances
- 1970 - WoodstockWoodstock (film)Woodstock is a 1970 American documentary on the Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 at Bethel in New York. Entertainment Weekly called this film the benchmark of concert movies and one of the most entertaining documentaries ever made...
- as himself with Sha Na Na - 1972 - Dynamite ChickenDynamite ChickenDynamite Chicken is American comedy film from 1972, starring Richard Pryor.“A contemporary probe and commentary of the mores and maladies of our age... With shtick, bits, pieces, girls, some hamburger, a little hair, a lady, some fellas, some religious stuff, and a lot of other things” boasts the...
- as himself with Sha Na Na - 1978 - GreaseGrease (film)Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
- with Sha Na Na as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers - 1994 - Woodstock Diary - as himself with Sha Na Na
- 2003 - Festival ExpressFestival ExpressFestival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
- as himself with Sha Na Na