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{{Short description|British music executive}}
{{Short description|British music executive}}
{{Infobox person
{{Multiple issues|
| name = Jon Baker
{{Cleanup-PR|date=February 2020}}
| image = Jon Baker.jpg
{{COI|date=February 2020}}
| image_upright =
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
|nationality = British
| caption =
| birth_date = 1960
| birth_place = London
| citizenship = British / Jamaica
| education = [[Chelsea College of Arts]]
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Music producer, hotelier, businessperson.
| known_for =
| notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works"; or by |label_name=, which produces label "Label(s)" -->
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| boards =
| spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name -->
| parents =
| relatives =
| family =
| awards =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
}}

''' Jon Baker '''(born 1960) is a music industry executive. He has worked as a fashion designer, promoter, and is currently co-owner of Geejam, a luxury resort and recording studio located in [[San San, Portland, Jamaica|San San]], near [[Port Antonio, Jamaica]].
''' Jon Baker '''(born 1960) is a music industry executive. He has worked as a fashion designer, promoter, and is currently co-owner of Geejam, a luxury resort and recording studio located in [[San San, Portland, Jamaica|San San]], near [[Port Antonio, Jamaica]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born in 1960 in London,<ref name="six">{{cite news | title=Artists Mix Work and Play at GeeJam Studios in Jamaica | publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45 |date=May 25, 2002|first=Christopher|last=Walsh|newspaper=Billboard| accessdate=November 2, 2020 | page=45}}</ref> {{highlight | Baker’s mother was a British fashion designer<ref name="eight">{{cite news|title=Mole and Ruza Blue|date=April 4, 1983|newspaper=New York|page=35}}</ref>}} and his father sold {{highlight|classic cars}}.<ref name="Horwell 2017">{{cite web | last=Horwell | first=Veronica | title=Maureen Baker obituary | website=the Guardian | date=December 27, 2017 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/dec/27/maureen-baker-obituary | access-date=September 14, 2021}}</ref> {{highlight|Baker attended the [[Chelsea College of Art]].<ref name="thirteen">{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Ablett|date=November 10, 1991|newspaper=Observer Magazine|title=Street Credibility|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ED3tZdRgQZEi9AtYN5R2E5npknO3VJsd}}</ref>}} {{highlight|In 1983, Baker designed and promoted a club on [[Union Square, Manhattan|Union Square]] called Fresh 14, before it closed after a short while<ref name="nine">{{cite news|first=Darrell|last=M.McNeill|date=|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hixB1HYfxHIL-RwOZBFmMl1lgEwbJQ1U|title=Gee Street Sharpens It's Edge|pages=28, 41|date=November 4, 1994|newspaper=BRE}}</ref><ref name="seventeen">{{cite web | last=Seymour | first=Corey | title=Inside Geejam: The Sublime Jamaican Resort and Music Studio Where Rihanna, Drake, and Diplo Record | website=Vogue | url=https://www.vogue.com/article/geejam-recording-studio-resort-port-antonio-jamaica | access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> and in 1984, Baker returned to the UK.<ref name="ten">{{cite news|last=Seymour|first=Corey|date=November 1, 2011|title=Jamaican Punch|newspaper=W Magazine: Women's Fashion & Celebrity News|accessdate=November 2, 2020|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/jon-baker-jamaica}}</ref>}}
Baker was born in 1960 in London.<ref name="six">{{cite news | title=Artists Mix Work and Play at GeeJam Studios in Jamaica | publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45 |date=May 25, 2002|first=Christopher|last=Walsh|newspaper=Billboard| accessdate=November 2, 2020 | page=45}}</ref> His mother, [[Maureen Baker (fashion designer)|Maureen Baker]], was a fashion designer<ref name="eight">{{cite news|title=Mole and Ruza Blue|date=April 4, 1983|newspaper=New York|page=35}}</ref> and his father, Roy Baker, sold classic cars.<ref name="Horwell 2017">{{cite web | last=Horwell | first=Veronica | title=Maureen Baker obituary | website=the Guardian | date=December 27, 2017 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/dec/27/maureen-baker-obituary | access-date=September 14, 2021}}</ref> Baker attended the [[Chelsea College of Art]].<ref name="thirteen">{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Ablett|date=November 10, 1991|newspaper=Observer Magazine|title=Street Credibility|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ED3tZdRgQZEi9AtYN5R2E5npknO3VJsd}}</ref>

==Early career==
After leaving school in 1977,<ref name="nine">{{cite news|first=Darrell|last=M.McNeill|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hixB1HYfxHIL-RwOZBFmMl1lgEwbJQ1U|title=Gee Street Sharpens It's Edge|pages=28, 41|date=November 4, 1994|newspaper=BRE}}</ref><ref name="five">{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Clunis|date=December 22, 2000|page=50|newspaper=The Gleaner|title=Gee Jam Puts Down Roots in Portland}}</ref> Baker opened a punk T-shirt store called Blooze in Kensington Market in 1978.<ref name="forty">{{cite book|first1=Graham|last1=Smith|first2=Chris|last2=Sullivan|year=2011|title=We Can Be Heroes|chapter=Jon Bakers Axiom’ P}}</ref> In 1979, operations grew and Blooze was relocated to the Great Gear Market, Kings Road, London and renamed Axiom.<ref name="forty"/><ref name="three">{{cite news|title=The Blitz goes a bomb in New York|newspaper=Evening Standard}}</ref> In 1980 Baker moved to New York<ref name="nine"/><ref name="ten">{{cite news|last=Seymour|first=Corey|date=November 1, 2011|title=Jamaican Punch|newspaper=W Magazine: Women's Fashion & Celebrity News|accessdate=November 2, 2020|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/jon-baker-jamaica}}</ref> and in 1981 staged a combined Axiom fashion show and concert in support of Spandau Ballet’s performance at The Underground, Broadway’s disco club.<ref name="eight">{{cite news|title=Mole and Ruza Blue|date=April 4, 1983|newspaper=New York|page=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/revolution/1981-first-blitz-invasion-of-the-us/ | work=New Sounds New Styles, republished at Shapersofthe80s.com) | first=David | last=Johnson | title=1981, First Blitz invasion of the US | date=July 1, 1981 | access-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="three"/>

In 1982, Baker launched UK fashion label Demob in New York.<ref name="fortytwo">{{cite news|date=July 12, 1982|newspaper=Daily News Record|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WRbGT8cu1LVgRdOxGbTBr8iEHgmP4ecg?usp=sharing|title=London / New York}}</ref> Baker then based himself in New York where he met club promoter and manager Ruza Blue who introduced him to the hip-hop scene in the Bronx.<ref name="eight"/> Baker then began working at [[The Roxy (New York City)|The Roxy]] club.<ref name="twelve">{{cite news|last=Farsides|first=Tony|date=August 21, 1988|pages=16, 17, 59, 60|title=Independent's Day|newspaper=City Limits|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZsCwA2L8C-pW1wgtgoLlR70oHi4TwwRo?usp=sharing}}</ref><ref name="twentysix">{{cite news|first=Ayanna|last=Kirton|date=August 27, 2004|title=Jon Baker - working for the best|url=http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040827/business/business3.html|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

Baker produced fashion shows for various designers and events in New York, such as the Danceteria and the Peppermint Lounge.<ref name="eight"/> In 1983, Baker designed and promoted a club on Union Square called Fresh 14, before it closed after a short while<ref name="thirteen">{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Ablett|date=November 10, 1991|newspaper=Observer Magazine|title=Street Credibility|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ED3tZdRgQZEi9AtYN5R2E5npknO3VJsd}}</ref><ref name="fourteen">{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Jeffrey|date=December 6, 1989|title=Dawn of a New Era|newspaper=Record Mirror}}</ref> and in 1984 Baker returned to the UK.<ref name="nine"/>

⚫
==Gee Street Records==
⚫
In 1985, having returned to the UK, Baker organized [[Doug E. Fresh]] and [[Slick Rick|Slick Rick's]] first [[United Kingdom|UK]] tour.<ref>Bynoe, Yvonne (2006). "Slick Rick." ''Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture'', Greenwood Press, p. 104.</ref> That year, he met Rob Birch and Nick Hallam of the [[Stereo MCs]] and together they began to produce and distribute [[white label]] records to London dance shops. He also met his future wife Ziggi Golding, an agent who ran the progressive "Z" modeling agency.<ref>Larkin, Colin (1995), ''Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', p. 1617.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somanyrecordssolittletime.com/?cat=1047 |title=Jon Baker « So Many Records, So Little Time |publisher=Somanyrecordssolittletime.com |date= |access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://tapeop.com/interviews/88/jon-baker-GeeJam/ | title=Recording in Jamaica with Jon Baker | publisher=tapeop.com | date=April–May 2014 | access-date=11 September 2014 | author=Zaremba, Peter}}</ref> Baker alongside Britain’s pirate radio Kiss FM hip-hop jock DJ Richie Rich in 1986<ref name="thirteen">{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Ablett|date=November 10, 1991|newspaper=Observer Magazine|title=Street Credibility|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ED3tZdRgQZEi9AtYN5R2E5npknO3VJsd}}</ref><ref name="fourteen">{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Jeffrey|date=December 6, 1989|title=Dawn of a New Era|newspaper=Record Mirror}}</ref> and the Stereo MCs , opened a recording studio called Gee Street Records.<ref name="nine">{{cite news|first=Darrell|last=M.McNeill|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hixB1HYfxHIL-RwOZBFmMl1lgEwbJQ1U|title=Gee Street Sharpens It's Edge|pages=28, 41|date=November 4, 1994|newspaper=BRE}}</ref> Among the artists Gee Street signed and/or promoted were [[Jon King (musician)|Jon King]]/King Butcher, Funtopia, [[Gail Ann Dorsey]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Jungle Brothers]], the Stereo MCs, and [[P.M. Dawn]]. Gee Street's first significant success was the release of ''[[Straight out the Jungle]]'' by [[Jungle Brothers]]; their single "I'll House You" reached the top 5 in the UK national charts.<ref>Jackson, Bill (1996). "The Jungle Brothers" in ''Vibe''. Vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 85-6.</ref> Then, in 1988, he signed the Stereo MCs to a licensing deal with [[Island Records]].

===Polygram / Island Records===


In 1990, Polygram Records’ [[Chris Blackwell]] signed [[P.M. Dawn]], and proposed a joint venture with [[Island Records|Island]]/[[PolyGram]] that secured [[Gee Street Records|Gee Street]]'s roster for Island.<ref>Romanowski, Patricia, Holly George-Warren, Jon Pareles (1995). ''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', Fireside Press, p. 774.</ref> Baker agreed on a worldwide joint venture with the focus on North American markets in 1991.<ref name="thirteen"/><ref name="five">{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Clunis|date=December 22, 2000|page=50|newspaper=The Gleaner|title=Gee Jam Puts Down Roots in Portland}}</ref> Baker was appointed President of Island Jamaica for North America (the Jamaican music division of Island Records). The first release under the joint venture, PM Dawn’s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” released in 1991, providing the funding for Bakers investments in Jamaica and with this he brought property in San San, Port Antonio.<ref name="six"/><ref name="seventeen">{{cite web | last=Seymour | first=Corey | title=Inside Geejam: The Sublime Jamaican Resort and Music Studio Where Rihanna, Drake, and Diplo Record | website=Vogue | url=https://www.vogue.com/article/geejam-recording-studio-resort-port-antonio-jamaica | access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref>
==NYC, 1980–84==
In the early 1980s, Baker moved to [[New York City|New York]] and worked with Ruza Blue, a British [[expatriate|expat]] and [[promoter (entertainment)|music promoter]], who brought him to [[Disco Fever]], an important early [[hip hop]] club in the [[The Bronx|Bronx]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7792727.stm |title=Programmes &#124; World News America &#124; First person: Kool Lady Blue |work=BBC News |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref> Ruza Blue started a popular hip hop night at NYC's Club Negril. When Negril proved too small a venue, she promoted a popular Friday night hip hop party at [[The Roxy (New York City)|The Roxy]]. During this era, Baker also ran Jon Baker Productions, a small [[Talent agent|booking agency]] that brought well known club nights from [[London]] and [[Berlin]] to New York's [[Danceteria]], and British design collectives to New York and produced [[fashion show]]s for nightclubs like Danceteria, the Roxy, the [[Peppermint Lounge]], and [[The Ritz (rock club)|The Ritz]].<ref name="autogenerated35">"Ruza Blue and Mole," ''New York Magazine'', April 4, 1983, p. 35.</ref>


The joint venture agreement between Island Polygram Records and Baker faltered and came to an end in 1996.<ref>{{cite news|title=Artists Mix Work and Play at GeeJam Studios in Jamaica|newspaper=Billboard|date=November 20, 1999|page=102|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WRbGT8cu1LVgRdOxGbTBr8iEHgmP4ecg}}</ref>
⚫
==Gee Street Records, 1985–90==
⚫
Baker returned to [[London]] in 1984. In 1985, Baker organized [[Doug E. Fresh]] and [[Slick Rick|Slick Rick's]] first [[United Kingdom|UK]] tour.<ref>Bynoe, Yvonne (2006). "Slick Rick." ''Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture'', Greenwood Press, p. 104.</ref> That year, he met Rob Birch and Nick Hallam of the [[Stereo MCs]] and together they began to produce and distribute [[white label]] records to London dance shops. He also met his future wife Ziggi Golding, an agent who ran the progressive "Z" modeling agency, with whom he established [[Gee Street Records]].<ref>Larkin, Colin (1995), ''Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', p. 1617.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somanyrecordssolittletime.com/?cat=1047 |title=Jon Baker « So Many Records, So Little Time |publisher=Somanyrecordssolittletime.com |date= |access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://tapeop.com/interviews/88/jon-baker-GeeJam/ | title=Recording in Jamaica with Jon Baker | publisher=tapeop.com | date=April–May 2014 | access-date=11 September 2014 | author=Zaremba, Peter}}</ref> Among the artists, Gee Street signed and/or promoted were [[Jon King (musician)|Jon King]]/King Butcher, Funtopia, [[Gail Ann Dorsey]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Jungle Brothers]], the Stereo MCs, and [[P.M. Dawn]].


===V2===
Gee Street's first major success was the release of ''[[Straight out the Jungle]]'' by [[Jungle Brothers]]; their single "I'll House You" went top 5 in the UK national charts.<ref>Jackson, Bill (1996). "The Jungle Brothers" in ''Vibe''. Vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 85-6.</ref> Then, in 1988, he signed the Stereo MCs to a licensing deal with [[Island Records]]. In 1989, he brought P.M. Dawn to [[England]].
Later that year, Baker established a joint venture with [[Richard Branson]] and [[V2 Records]],<ref name="six">{{cite news | title=Artists Mix Work and Play at GeeJam Studios in Jamaica | publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45 |date=May 25, 2002|first=Christopher|last=Walsh|newspaper=Billboard| accessdate=November 2, 2020 | page=45}}</ref> <ref name="twentythree">{{cite news|date=December 16, 1996|title=Upper Class Signing|newspaper=HITS Magazine|page=13}}</reF> signing [[RZA]] to an exclusive solo recording deal in 1997.<ref name="five"/><ref name="twentysix">{{cite news|first=Ayanna|last=Kirton|date=August 27, 2004|title=Jon Baker - working for the best|url=http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040827/business/business3.html|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}</ref>


V2 bought 80% of Gee Street and marketed it through [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]].<ref name="newsline">{{cite journal |title=Newsline |journal=Billboard |date=1999-11-20 |volume=111 |issue=47 |page=102}}</ref> Baker sold his remaining 20% share of [[Gee Street Records|Gee Street]] to [[Richard Branson]] in 2000.<ref name="newsline" />
== Island Records 1991–97 / V2 1997–2000==
In 1990, [[Chris Blackwell]] signed [[P.M. Dawn]], and proposed a joint venture with [[Island Records|Island]]/[[PolyGram]] that secured [[Gee Street Records|Gee Street]]'s roster for Island.<ref>Romanowski, Patricia, Holly George-Warren, Jon Pareles (1995). ''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', Fireside Press, p. 774.</ref> Back in the [[United States|US]], Baker became a senior [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] man on the [[Island Records]] team and head of Blackwell's newly formed Island Jamaica label for [[North America]], which included [[Luciano (singer)|Luciano]], [[Chaka Demus|Chaka Demus and Pliars]], and [[Beenie Man]], among others. In 1996, Blackwell left Island and the Polygram group. With this, Baker bought Gee Street and resold 75% of it to [[Richard Branson]]. In the deal, Baker retained control of Gee Street's marketing, promotion and A&R, while Branson made Gee Street the cornerstone of [[V2 Records]] in North America and named Baker co-president.<ref>Larkin, Colin. (1987). ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music.'' "Gee Street Records." p. 134.</ref>


==Geejam, 2000s==
==Geejam, 2000s==
Baker sold his shares of [[Gee Street Records|Gee Street]] to [[Richard Branson]] in 2000.<ref>"Newsline." ''Billboard'', November 20, 1999, p. 102.</ref> In 2002, he moved to [[Jamaica]], became a Jamaican citizen. That year, he also produced the album ''Adelante'', featuring [[Ky-Mani Marley]] and Alberto D'Ascola (aka [[Alborosie]])<ref>"Artists Mix Work And Play At Geejam Studios in Jamaica." ''Billboard'', May 25, 2002, p. 45.</ref>
In 2002, he moved to [[Jamaica]], became a Jamaican citizen. That year, he also produced the album ''Adelante'', featuring [[Ky-Mani Marley]] and Alberto D'Ascola (aka [[Alborosie]])<ref>"Artists Mix Work And Play At Geejam Studios in Jamaica." ''Billboard'', May 25, 2002, p. 45.</ref>


In 2004, Baker produced ''Two Culture Clash'' in collaboration with producer Mark Jones in the [[UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A2915642/ |title=collective - the interactive culture magazine |publisher=BBC |date= |access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref> In 2004 and again in 2005, he became a consultant for New Reality TV's [[Digicel]] Rising Stars talent competition on Jamaica's [[Television Jamaica|TVJ]] television station in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040822/social/social1.html |title=Gee Jam signs deal with Digicel - Rising Stars runners-up to get more training |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |date=August 22, 2004 |access-date=2014-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052159/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040822/social/social1.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051002/lead/lead7.html |title=A new star rises |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |date=October 2, 2005 |access-date=2014-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052400/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051002/lead/lead7.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}</ref>
In 2004, Baker produced ''Two Culture Clash'' in collaboration with producer Mark Jones in the [[UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A2915642/ |title=collective - the interactive culture magazine |publisher=BBC |date= |access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref> In 2004 and again in 2005, he became a consultant for New Reality TV's [[Digicel]] Rising Stars talent competition on Jamaica's [[Television Jamaica|TVJ]] television station in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040822/social/social1.html |title=Gee Jam signs deal with Digicel - Rising Stars runners-up to get more training |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |date=August 22, 2004 |access-date=2014-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052159/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040822/social/social1.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051002/lead/lead7.html |title=A new star rises |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |date=October 2, 2005 |access-date=2014-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052400/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051002/lead/lead7.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}</ref>

Latest revision as of 15:04, 23 April 2023

Jon Baker
Born1960
London
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipBritish / Jamaica
EducationChelsea College of Arts
Occupation(s)Music producer, hotelier, businessperson.

Jon Baker (born 1960) is a music industry executive. He has worked as a fashion designer, promoter, and is currently co-owner of Geejam, a luxury resort and recording studio located in San San, near Port Antonio, Jamaica.

Early life

[edit]

Baker was born in 1960 in London.[1] His mother, Maureen Baker, was a fashion designer[2] and his father, Roy Baker, sold classic cars.[3] Baker attended the Chelsea College of Art.[4]

Early career

[edit]

After leaving school in 1977,[5][6] Baker opened a punk T-shirt store called Blooze in Kensington Market in 1978.[7] In 1979, operations grew and Blooze was relocated to the Great Gear Market, Kings Road, London and renamed Axiom.[7][8] In 1980 Baker moved to New York[5][9] and in 1981 staged a combined Axiom fashion show and concert in support of Spandau Ballet’s performance at The Underground, Broadway’s disco club.[2][10][8]

In 1982, Baker launched UK fashion label Demob in New York.[11] Baker then based himself in New York where he met club promoter and manager Ruza Blue who introduced him to the hip-hop scene in the Bronx.[2] Baker then began working at The Roxy club.[12][13]

Baker produced fashion shows for various designers and events in New York, such as the Danceteria and the Peppermint Lounge.[2] In 1983, Baker designed and promoted a club on Union Square called Fresh 14, before it closed after a short while[4][14] and in 1984 Baker returned to the UK.[5]

Gee Street Records

[edit]

In 1985, having returned to the UK, Baker organized Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's first UK tour.[15] That year, he met Rob Birch and Nick Hallam of the Stereo MCs and together they began to produce and distribute white label records to London dance shops. He also met his future wife Ziggi Golding, an agent who ran the progressive "Z" modeling agency.[16][17][18] Baker alongside Britain’s pirate radio Kiss FM hip-hop jock DJ Richie Rich in 1986[4][14] and the Stereo MCs , opened a recording studio called Gee Street Records.[5] Among the artists Gee Street signed and/or promoted were Jon King/King Butcher, Funtopia, Gail Ann Dorsey, Queen Latifah, Jungle Brothers, the Stereo MCs, and P.M. Dawn. Gee Street's first significant success was the release of Straight out the Jungle by Jungle Brothers; their single "I'll House You" reached the top 5 in the UK national charts.[19] Then, in 1988, he signed the Stereo MCs to a licensing deal with Island Records.

Polygram / Island Records

[edit]

In 1990, Polygram Records’ Chris Blackwell signed P.M. Dawn, and proposed a joint venture with Island/PolyGram that secured Gee Street's roster for Island.[20] Baker agreed on a worldwide joint venture with the focus on North American markets in 1991.[4][6] Baker was appointed President of Island Jamaica for North America (the Jamaican music division of Island Records). The first release under the joint venture, PM Dawn’s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” released in 1991, providing the funding for Bakers investments in Jamaica and with this he brought property in San San, Port Antonio.[1][21]

The joint venture agreement between Island Polygram Records and Baker faltered and came to an end in 1996.[22]

V2

[edit]

Later that year, Baker established a joint venture with Richard Branson and V2 Records,[1] [23] signing RZA to an exclusive solo recording deal in 1997.[6][13]

V2 bought 80% of Gee Street and marketed it through BMG.[24] Baker sold his remaining 20% share of Gee Street to Richard Branson in 2000.[24]

Geejam, 2000s

[edit]

In 2002, he moved to Jamaica, became a Jamaican citizen. That year, he also produced the album Adelante, featuring Ky-Mani Marley and Alberto D'Ascola (aka Alborosie)[25]

In 2004, Baker produced Two Culture Clash in collaboration with producer Mark Jones in the UK.[26] In 2004 and again in 2005, he became a consultant for New Reality TV's Digicel Rising Stars talent competition on Jamaica's TVJ television station in 2004.[27][28]

In 2006, Baker worked with Steve Beaver of the Hong Kong-based Beaver Music on the Singerz Collection album series through Universal Music Japan; it featured contemporary songs interpreted in a reggae style. Later that year, however, Baker and Beaver went into a more formal partnership and agreed to develop Geejam into a luxury private hotel.[29] To this point, Baker had devoted a great deal of his energy to make Geejam an exclusive residential recording studio. The studio's resources had earned a strong reputation among industry insiders and attracted several top artists including Gorillaz, No Doubt, India Arie, Dru Hill, Gondwana, Les Nubians, Wyclef Jean, and Björk.[30][31]

Geejam opened to the general public in 2008 and is part of the Island Outpost brand.[32][33][34][35][36] Since 2008, Geejam has been rated Jamaica's number-one hotel by travel review website TripAdvisor.com in March 2010.[37] Over this time, Drake, Santigold, Major Lazer, and Amy Winehouse have all worked on recording projects there.[38][39] The Geejam Group's most recent project involved the Jamaican mento band The Jolly Boys. Their album Great Expectation was released in the UK on 13 September 2010, and was received well by critics in Europe.[40][41][42][43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Walsh, Christopher (May 25, 2002). "Artists Mix Work and Play at GeeJam Studios in Jamaica". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 45. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Mole and Ruza Blue". New York. April 4, 1983. p. 35.
  3. ^ Horwell, Veronica (December 27, 2017). "Maureen Baker obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Ablett, Paul (November 10, 1991). "Street Credibility". Observer Magazine.
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