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Mickey 'Guitar' Baker Dead: 'Love Is Strange' Singer Dies at 87

Mickey Guitar Baker Dead DiesRedferns

Mickey "Guitar" Baker, rock session musician and writer of the "Dirty Dancing" hit song "Love Is Strange," has died. According to New York Daily News the guitarist passed away Tuesday (Nov. 27) at his adopted home of Toulouse, France. He was 87.

In the 1950s Baker and singer Sylvia Vanderpool recorded "Love Is Strange," a ballad that made a huge resurgence with the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing," when it was used to soundtrack a famous "seduction" scene between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Baker was born MacHouston Baker in Louisville, Ky. He was orphaned at a young age, and eventually found himself in New York City. With only $14 to his name, the aspiring musician bought a cheap guitar at a local pawn shop.

By the '50s, Baker found himself a top-ranking session musician for Atlantic. His work was included in thousands of records, from the guitar riffs of Ike and Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," to Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll."

Baker moved to France in the mid 1960s where he remained until his death. The guitarist's former singing partner, Vanderpool, died last year.

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crazy ray

Gee, I didn't know Dick and Don C. were musicians. What instrument did they play?

November 30 2012 at 10:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jdrap334

RIP, Mickey Baker!

November 30 2012 at 8:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
meko02

This is the only way kids today find out what GOOD music is, when the artist dies, tho alot of them like the music on the CAR AD'S or other T.V. and Viedo Games they never know who it is singing or playing it. Because the only good music is OLD music, I live and love the older music from like the 50's 60's and 70's thats the only kind of music there is for me.

November 30 2012 at 7:11 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Carolyn

Aw, our beloved music stars of the '50s and '60s are leaving us. Sylvia Vanderpool passed away about 2 years ago. "Love is strange, yey, yey.." Mickey lived a good, long life. 'ti a blessing.

November 30 2012 at 7:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hi from Leo

I remember this great song from my teenage years.....wonderful!!!

November 30 2012 at 3:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Silkie

I forgot to add "romantic".

November 30 2012 at 2:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Silkie

They don't make them like they used to. They sounded great together. Beautiful.
RIP

November 30 2012 at 2:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
harolddundee

Mickey and Sylvia and Love is Strange , a great song.

November 29 2012 at 9:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Iselin007

Wow I was unaware of this famous musician

November 29 2012 at 9:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PENNY

"Hey there, Lover Boy!"

November 29 2012 at 9:10 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply