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Born April 1, 1917, Orange, Texas, USA – died August 11, 1990, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Diminutive big band singer best remembered as vocalist on the 1939 Orrin Tucker hit Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! Following a recommendation by Louis Armstrong, Bonnie Baker joined Orrin Tucker's orchestra in 1936. Tucker promptly nicknamed her 'Wee Bonnie Baker on account of her short 4'11 stature. In 1940, when Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! reached no. 2 in the charts, she was voted Most Popular Female Band Vocalist in a college poll. Other popular songs she recorded were You'd Be Surprised, Billy, Would Ja Mind, and Especially For You.

After Tucker's orchestra disbanded in 1942, Baker embarked on a solo career, singing with the USO (United Service Organizations) during World War II and appearing regularly on the radio show Your Hit Parade. She also sang with other bands, and married jazz guitarist Bill Gailey.

In 1948, Baker recorded the novelty song That's All Folks! with the Mel Blanc-voiced character Porky Pig from the Daffy Duck cartoons.

Baker gave up performing after suffering a heart attack in 1965. In 1976, she was a switchboard operator at a Ft. Lauderdale medical center.

ALBUMS


Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra Featuring "Wee" Bonnie Baker*
The Best of Orrin Tucker & His Orchestra
1999, ,
Swing/Big Band
Orrin Tucker, Bonnie Baker
Orrin Tucker With Wee Bonnie Baker
1986, Cass, Comp, Demand Performance (2)
Bonnie Baker With Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Bonnie Baker With Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra, 1938 - 1940
1983, LP, Comp, Joyce
Orrin Tucker, Bonnie Baker
Remember When?
1958, ,
Swing/Vocal
Bonnie Baker
Oh Johnny!
1958, Vinyl, ,
Vocal
Wee Bonnie Baker*
Ooh I Like / The Water In The Well
1957, 7", Kahill
"Wee Bonnie" Baker*
Send A Christmas Card To Joe / A Stretch Sock For Christmas
1956, 7", Single, Kahill
Bonnie Baker And The Captivate-Airs
It May Be Wrong / I Would If I Could
1948, Shellac, 10", Memo (2)
Bonnie Baker, George Albright And His Orchestra
I'm Goin' To Be A Bad Girl / I've Been Waitin' For Your Phone Call For Eighteen Years
1948, Shellac, 10", Universal Recording Corp.
Bonnie Baker
Pinch Me
1939, 12", S/Sided, Transcription, NBC Orthacoustic Radio Recording
Orrin Tucker - Bonnie Baker, Jimmie Lunceford
Demonstration Record
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Bonnie Baker, Orrin Tucker
Oh Johnny!
LP, Harmony (4)
Bonnie Baker
Oh Johnny / You'd Be Surprised
2xShellac, 10", S/Sided, Promo, Gallo Wine
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
The Last Time I Saw Paris / Aren't You Gonna Kiss Me Goodnight?
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Mary Mary Quite Contrary / A Stone's Throw From Heaven
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Where'd You Get Those Eyes? / Make Believe
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You're Just So So / Two Hearts That Pass In The Night
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia, ,
Big Band
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Do I Worry? / I Went Out Of My Way
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder (For Somebody Else) / Georgia On My Mind
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
It Was Wonderful Then (And It's Wonderful Now) / No Foolin'
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You Talk Too Much / All Alone And Lonely
1941
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You Betcha My Life / Drink The Barrel Dry
1941
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
My Resistance Is Low / Been Lookin' For Love
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You Didn't Steal That Kiss / You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
I Wouldn't Take A Million / Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees)
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
I Know Somebody Who Loves You / Take Care
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Too Busy / It'll Come To You
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Apple Blossoms And Chapel Bells / Sh! Baby's Asleep
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia, ,
Big Band
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Not Yet / Where Do I Go From You?
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Go Way - Can't You See I'm Dreaming / Get The Moon Out Of Your Eyes
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You've Got What It Takes / Dancing On A Dime
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
I Know, I Know / Autumn On The Campus
1940, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
I Could Kiss You For That / Strawberry Lane
1940
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
If I Could Be The Dummy On Your Knee / If It Wasn't For The Moon
1940, Shellac, ,
Big Band/Vocal
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
I Love Ya, I Betcha / La Rosita
1940
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Stop! It's Wonderful / Lydia, The Tattooed Lady
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Little Girl / You'd Be Surprised
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Blue Orchids / Billy
1939, Shellac, 10", Conqueror
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
All In Favor Say "Aye" / If I Knew Then
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia,
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Oh, Lady Be Good / Them There Eyes
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Pinch Me / Would Ja Mind
1939, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Midnight / What Are Little Girls Made Of
1939, Shellac, 10", Vocalion (2),
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Billy / Everybody Loves My Baby
1939
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! / How Many Times
1939
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Cathedral In The Pines / Havin' Myself A Time
1938, Shellac, 10", Vocalion (2)
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Especially For You / I Need Lovin'
1938
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
Calling All Hearts / You Can Depend On Me
Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra
You're The One (For Me) / Gee! I Wish I'd Listened To My Mother
Shellac, 10", Columbia

APPEARANCES +


Jess And The Bandits
Smoke & Mirrors
2017, CD, ,
Country
Various
Hit Parade 1940
2007, CD, Comp, Dynamic Nostalgia
Various
In The Mood - Big Band Hits
2004, 3xCD, Comp, Dynamic Entertainment Ltd
Various
America In The '40s
1997, Cass, Comp, Dol, Reader's Digest,
Various
The Big Band Singers
1996, 2xCD, Comp, Sony Music Special Products, The Good Music Record Co., ,
Big Band
Various
Those Wonderful Years: Puttin' On The Ritz
1995
Various
The Greatest Recordings Of The Big Band Era
1980, 2x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Big Band
Various
60 Of The Greatest Big Bands
1977, 6x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Big Band
Various
Reflections
1976, Vinyl,
Various
The Music Of Long Ago And Far Away
1976
Various
The Early Years (Great Stars Of The 30's & 40's)
1973
Various
Big Bands' Greatest Hits
1970
Various
Those Wonderful Stars Of Yesteryear
1969, 6xLP, Comp + Box, A Columbia Musical Treasury,
Various
The Best Of The Big Bands
1968, 2x Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Various
The Best Of The Big Bands
1968, 2x Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Mel Blanc
That's All Folks! / Won't You Ever Get Together With Me
1952, Shellac, 10", Promo, Capitol Records
Orrin Tucker & His Orchestra*
My Resistance Is Low / If You Love Me
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker & His Orchestra*
Billy (I Always Dream Of Bill) / You'd Be Surprised
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Orrin Tucker & His Orchestra*
Where Do I Go From You / Go Way - Can't You See I'm Dreaming
1941, Shellac, 10", Columbia
Various
They Sold...20 Million!
LP, Promo, Warner Bros. Music
Orrin Tucker & His Orchestra*
I Know, I Know / If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)
Shellac, 10", Columbia
Various
Big Bands Revisited
8x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Bop/Big Band/Swing
Orin Tucker And His Orchestra*
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh / Billy
Various
Stora Och Små Män - Musiken Från Filmen
1995, CD, Album, Comp, EMI, Svensk Filmindustri, EMI, Svensk Filmindustri, EMI, Svensk Filmindustri, ,
Soundtrack
Various
Those Wonderful Years: Puttin' On The Ritz
1995, CD,
Various
Unforgettable Performances Volume 20
1989, VHS, Comp, PAL, Charly Video
Various
Great Vocalists Of The Big Band Era
1978, 6xLP, Comp + Box, Columbia Special Products
Carol Channing, Various
Hello Carol - Music You Can't Forget - Shows 53 to 65
1978, Box, Comp + 6xLP + LP, S/Sided, U.S. Department Of Health, Education, And Welfare, Social Security Administration
Various
Reflections
1976
Various
Your Hit Parade
1975, ,
Vocal
Various
Jukebox Saturday Night. 96 Great Jukebox Hits
1975
Various
The Great Big Band Vocalists
1974, Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Various
Hello Out There In Radioland
1973, 7", Comp, Columbia Special Products
Various
Great Stars Of The 30's And 40's
1973, LP, Comp, Columbia House
Various
Big Bands - Big Stars!
1972, 3xLP, Comp + Box, Columbia Special Products
Various
The Best Of The Big Band Singers
1968, Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Various
The Nostalgic Voices And Sounds Of Old Time Radio
1968, 2x Vinyl, ,
Comedy/Big Band/Vocal
Various
Twenty Million
1958
Various
Old Time Radio Vol. 2
LP, Comp, Ltd, Columbia Special Products, ,
Radioplay/Vocal
Various
Big Van Sounds
LP, Comp, Mono, Mark56 Records, ,
Big Band
Various
55 Years Of Great Hits
LP, Comp, Mark56 Records, ,
Big Band/Dixieland
Various
Alpha Beta Presents... Remember These?
LP, Comp, Mark56 Records
Various
Your Hit Parade Classics
3xLP, Comp, CBS Special Products
Bing Crosby
The Best of Old Time Radio
LP, Comp, Columbia Musical Treasuries
Various
Webcor. Listen.
10xLP, Comp + Box, Columbia Special Products, ,
Easy Listening
Various
Over The Rainbow
CD, Comp, Quality Audio