Phil Baker was a composer, author, comedian and accordionist. Joined ASCAP in 1929.
Phil appeared in vaudeville. To quote SHOWBIZ, written by Abel Green and Joe Laurie Jr., “A new idea in vaudeville was introduced in 1921, when Phil Baker and Aileen Stanley – single acts on the same bill – joined to do a double act later in the bill.” The idea was copied by many singles and was highly popular with managers for obvious reasons. Baker teamed in an violin-accordion act with Lamb Ben Bernie. He appeared in many early films. Featured on radio in The Phil Baker Show, a variety program which ran from 1933 to 1940. He appeared in Take it or Leave It as the quiz show’s emcee, and Phil Baker, a radio program first heard on CBS in 1940.
Baker appeared on Broadway in many musicals, including: Music Box Review (192), Crazy Quilt: Artists and Models (1925), Greenwich Village Follies, A Night in Spain and Calling All Stars.
His songs include: “Look at Those Eyes,” “Park Avenue Strut,” “Just Suppose,” “Antoinette,” “Strange Interlude” (Copyright 1932, music by Baker, lyrics by Ben Bernie and Walter Hirsh), “Humming a Love Song,” “Rainy Day Earth” and “Invitation to a Broken Heart.”
–Roy. B Jorgensen