Etta Baker

Etta Lucille Baker (nee Reid) Mar 3, 1913 - Sept 23, 2006, grew up in the Johns River Township, Caldwell County, North Carolina, of African American/Native American heritage. Her parents Boone and Sally Reid introduced Etta to the guitar at the age of 3. As well as the 6 and 12 string guitars she was accomplished on the five-string banjo. For 26 years she worked in a textile mill and, raised nine children! In 1956 at the age of 60 Etta began playing music professionally and by 70 was performing full-time!

Interview with Etta is an excellent audio with Etta Baker telling her life story and playing a medley includes: "Railroad Bill", "John Henry", "Never Let Your Deal Go Down" and "Dew Drop" from NPR

The Traditional Years - Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians (samples only)
If you are a golk roots fan you may be interested in purchasing this CD. Recorded in 1956, these field recordings by Etta, family and friends were 'discovered' in the early '60s. This collection of songs was hugely responsible for the 'folk revival' in the 1960s and influenced greats such as Dave Van Ronk, Robert Zimmerman and Taj Mahal. I have this excellent CD.

In 2004 Etta recorded a CD with Taj.
"I came upon that record in the 60s. It didn't have any pictures so I had no idea who she was until I got to meet her years later. But man, that chord in 'Railroad Bill' ....it just cut right through me. I can't even describe how deep that was for me, just beautiful stuff .. Taj"

Etta also played and sang with her sister Cora Phillips (nee Reid). They recorded the CD 'Carolina Breakdown' together, this can be heard at Honey Where Ya Been So Long? Prewar Blues (an excellent site with a wealth of information and mp3's).

I recently purchased Etta's DVD The Fingerpicking Blues of Etta Baker she performs and discusses the fingerpicking styles from her repertoire.

I am presently attempting "Mint Julep". Etta Baker was one of the finest in the Piedmont tradition, listen to "One Cent Dime" at Florida Folk Life Collection an excellent music site. Also, you will find several tracks of Etta performing at Berea College.


View these incredible slides of Etta playin' News Observer


Wayne Martin plays fiddle on her banjo collection coming out soon.

Blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd's CD '10 days Out' with Kenny and Etta playing guitar.

Etta Baker was acclaimed during her musical career and received several awards. In 1982, the North Carolina Folklore Society's Brown-Hudson Folklore Award, 1989 the Folk Heritage Award from the North Carolina Arts Council along with sister Cora, 1991 the National Endowment for the Arts, National Heritage Fellows and The North Carolina Award in 2003.