Drummer Bio

For the past seven years, Michael Baker has worked with ‘World Renowned Superstar' Whitney Houston as her Music Director and drummer. Michael was also the producer/musical director on a Whitney Houston event featured only in Germany , the Divas Tour, also featuring Dionne Warwick and Natalie Cole.

Over the years he has worked with many stars including, Missy Elliott, Sting, Cristina Augulera, James Taylor, Elton John, Shaggy, Wycliff, Aretha Franklin, Mary J., Ricky Martins, Usher, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, and many others. Michael also played with jazz artists such as Al Jarreau, The Zawinul Syndicate, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine, Billy Childs, Dianne Reeves, Clark Terry, The Ellington Orchestra, as well as being the drummer in the Broadway Musical Sophisticated Ladies in LA Shubert Theater.

Michael and his arranging partner, Adi Yeshaya, created many arrangements for Aretha Franklin for live shows as well as on her last CD So Damn Happy for Arista. Michael has also arranged for award shows, featuring Whitney Houston on the Grammys, HBO specials, and Sports Illustrated events. Under the direction of Clive Davis, Michael was the Music Director and Arranger for the Areatha Franklin segment of Arista's 25 th Anniversary Special.

For many years, Michael has been associated with producer David Guest as drummer for numerous shows and benefits at Madison Square Garden , including Michael Jackson 30 th Anniversary Special. In 2002, Michael performed with ‘Hip Hop' singer Ashante at the Grammy Awards Show. Michael performed with Sting performing at Carnagie Hall in his ‘Save the Rain Forest' concerts; a UNICEF concert showcasing the late Aliyah, Taylor Dane, Simply Red, and Celine Dionne; and in the late eighties, Michael was part of a short lived power trio with ex-Police guitarist Andy Summers and Bassist Jerry Watts.

In addition to music, in 2004, Michael was a writer, producer and artist on a controversial TV commercial featuring a watch advertisement. Michael also worked as a writer and singer on Robert Townsend's Five Heartbeats movie and soundtrack, Richard Prior's JO JO Dancer with Jimmy Smith and Billy Ekstine, and the movie Johnny Dangerously . He also produced a new version of Alegria for Circ Du Sole.

Most of Michael's current production work has been done in Italy with the great Italian vocalist, Giorgia. Michael produced three of her CDs, Senza Ali (Writer/Producer), Giorgias Greatest Hits (Producer/Co-Writer), and Ladra Di Vonta (Producer). In addition to the studio work, he also worked on touring concerts and DVD performances with Giorgia (all with the BMG/Sony label). One of the highlights of producing the Senza Ali was working with Herbie Hancock on a song written by himself, Ricky Peterson and Peter Anderson; Giorgia called “Innamoratti” a “classic”!

While doing production for the Senza Ali CD in 2000, Michael conducted the San Remo Festivals Orchestra for the big hit production De Sole D Azzuro , written by Italian superstar, Zuccarro.

Currently, Michael is working on a tour with Giorgia for an MTV Unplugged Concert tour series.