Chet Baker materials from the papers of Diane Vavra, 1970-1989

Biographical Note

Date	Event
1929, Dec. 23	Born Chesney Henry Baker in Yale, Oklahoma
1946	Signed into the U. S. Army by his mother and enlisted in the 298th Army Band.
1948	Enrolled in El Camino Junior College in Torrance, California, and joined the school band.
1950	After being arrested for cannabis, Baker chose to enlist in the Army over a jail sentence and was assigned to the Sixth Army Band at the Presidio in San Francisco Married Charlaine Souder (divorced 1956).
1951	Left the military to play in jazz clubs along the West Coast.
1952	Performed with Charlie "Bird" Parker at the Trade Winds nightclub in Inglewood, California. That evening's performance was recorded and released in 1989 as Bird & Chet: Inglewood Jam (Live at the Trade Winds, 16 June 1952). Joined Gerry Mulligan's quartet.
1953 June 12	Performance with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz recorded. It was eventually released in 1997 as West Coast live.
1954	Released debut vocal album, Chet Baker sings. Down Beat magazine hailed Baker the nation's top trumpeter via the results of a readers' survey in which he bested jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie.
1955	Voted best trumpeter in America second year in a row by Down Beat magazine.
1956	Married Halema Alli (divorced 1964).
1957	Son Chesney Aftab Baker is born.
1959	Sentenced to six months in jail at Rikers Island, New York, due to several previous arrests. Released two months early for good behavior.
1960	Starred in Italian film, Urlatori alla Sbarra (Howlers in the dock) Sentenced by Italian court to nineteen months in jail for drug-related charges. Baker ultimately served eight months.
1962	Deported from Germany to Switzerland due to past crimes of prescription forgery, narcotics violations, and theft. Deported from Switzerland. Baker is denied entry into Italy and retreats to London. Son Dean Albert Baker born to Carol Jackson.
1963	Starred in British-American film, Stolen hours.
1964	Arrested in Germany and deported to the United States. Married Carol Jackson.
1965	Son Paul Baker born to Jackson.
1966	Daughter Melissa "Missy" Baker born to Jackson. Drug altercation in San Francisco left Baker in so much pain that he had his upper teeth removed. Over the next three years, he taught himself how to play while wearing dentures.
1970-1973	Began relationship with Diane Vavra.
1974	Recorded reunion concert with Gerry Mulligan at Carnegie Hall, later released on Epic Records.
1982	Resumed relationship with Vavra.
1983	Collaborated with English rock musician Elvis Costello on the UK Top 40 hit song, "Shipbuilding".
1986	Performed with Costello and Irish rock fusion singer Van Morrison at the world-renowned Ronnie Scotts' Jazz Club in London.
1987	Began work on autobiographical film, Let's get lost, which premiered in New York in March 1989.
1988, May 13	Died as a result of falling from hotel room window in Amsterdam, Netherlands.