 |
Gary Baker refuses to rest on his
laurels. Even though he’s earned a Grammy Award and created two of
the music industry’s best-selling crossover hits, the multi-talented
singer, songwriter and producer from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, prefers
focusing on future projects and fresh musical horizons.
“I have one goal – to keep it all going and keep writing from the
heart,” says Baker, who garnered a gold Grammy statuette for 1994’s
multi-million-selling smash “I Swear,” a tender testament of true
love co-written with Frank J. Myers. |
First recorded by Nashville troubadour John Michael Montgomery, “I
Swear” captured the No. 1 spot on the country charts for four
consecutive weeks. The heartfelt love song was quickly covered by
the hip harmony group All-4-One, who carried their own classic
rendition of “I Swear” to the pinnacle of the pop charts for 11
additional weeks. “That song tapped into something universal – a
person expressing undying devotion to the person they love,” Baker
believes. “Generations from now, that song will still be around – I
really believe that.”Few songwriters experience a success of the “I Swear” magnitude even
once in their career. Baker, however, recaptured that songwriting
magic when he and Myers collaborated with Richie McDonald, lead
singer of the country super group Lonestar, on a second musical
masterpiece called “I’m Already There”. “I feel very lucky,” Baker
observes. “I’ve been in the right place at the right time a whole
bunch of times.”
Released in 2001, Lonestar’s “I’m Already There” single remained No.
1 on the country charts for seven weeks before crossing as a Top 5
pop smash. The song – which deals with a husband and father who
misses his wife and children while he’s forced to be away from home
– proved to be an inspiring and comforting favorite among servicemen
and their families. “Those lyrics really struck a chord with an
awful lot of people,” Baker maintains. “To me, it means more to me
than any song I’ve ever written – that’s because I wrote it for my
wife and kids.”
A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Baker launched his recording
career with Muscle Shoals’ famed LeBlanc and Carr band, performing
on their Top 10 hit “Falling.” He wrote and recorded with artists
ranging from Mac Davis to Marie Osmond before becoming a member of
Muscle Shoals’ hit country act, The Shooters. Alabama’s
chart-topping “Once Upon a Lifetime” marked his first No. 1 hit as a
songwriter.
Since the success of “I Swear,” Baker has been honored by the
Country Radio Music Awards, the Country Music Awards, the Academy of
Country Music Awards, American Songwriter Magazine, the American
Music Awards, NSAI, ASCAP and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. His
versatility in pop and country has enabled him to work with pop
superstars Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson and the Backstreet Boys (who
scored a No. 1 hit with Baker’s” Anywhere for You”) as well as
country favorites like Lonestar, Reba McEntire and LeAnn Rimes.
“Gary’s the man,” says 98 Degrees singer and “Newlyweds” television
star Nick Lachey, whose recent solo album was co-produced by Baker.
“I love coming to Muscle Shoals to write and work with Gary and soak
up some of the wisdom and experience that he brings to the
industry.”
Baker and his wife, Amanda, live with their two sons, Brett and
Cole, on the majestic bluffs overlooking the scenic Tennessee River
in the Muscle Shoals region of northwest Alabama. For close to 50
years, the area has been a fabled musical Mecca for artists ranging
from Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett to Paul Simon and the
Rolling Stones.
“Muscle Shoals is a perfect fit for me, because we’re not known for
doing only one kind of music – there’s no stamp on what we do here,”
Baker believes. “I can live here and raise my kids in this beautiful
area, do what I do best and still work with some of the top names in
the business. I’ve been truly blessed.” |