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.