I was in the second or third row at Jemison, AL and right in front of Baker when he walked off the stage. I was shocked, but figured they would work things out after the show. I had no idea of the backstory and couldn't believe an era had ended. Baker was my fiddling idol at the time and much more important to me than Monroe.

You know, people rewrite history to make it more public compatible. I saw Frank Wakefield being interviewed about how he met Marsha. I was there when that went down. It was at Grass Valley. It was nothing like what they were saying. So, on this Baker video, I just think Baker didn't want to go into all the details of what was bugging him. There were lots of components. However, one issue that Baker was fuming about was that he was hired to do a workshop at a music store independent of Monroe. He was to be paid independent of anyone else. So, then Monroe shows up. After the workshop Monroe kept all the money. I guess Monroe felt that Baker was being paid already or he was just not thinking. When Baker quit, Monroe tried to save the situation by saying he would pay that money back to Baker. Baker told Monroe to keep the money and that he was gone. I remember it was much more colorful than how I just put it. This is what Baker told me. Baker had a unique relationship with Bill as far as pay goes. Baker was paid a salary, not by the show. At the next show which was in San Francisco where they wanted me to play fiddle, I saw the manager of the Music Hall tell Bill that in the future they would need to renegotiate the price if Baker was not going to be with the band. The Music Hall manager said that Baker was half of the draw to the shows and if he was not going to be there then... Monroe just looked down. You could see he was realizing the impact of Baker leaving right there.

This is only part of the story he told me a couple days after this incident. It had to do with money that Monroe didn't break up like he should have. That was what Baker was telling me and others. When Baker confronted Bill about it Monroe offered to give it back to him, but it was too late. As the band was heading to San Francisco to the Great American Music Hall, they called me up. They said they needed a fiddle. They meant a fiddle player. I called Baker and he told me this and more. Well, I was in the Music Annex studio with Bob Black and already had time off of my job as the director of engineering to record Bob. It was hard to get time in there. So when I did didn't jump. Bob said he would be happy to come back at a later date. I met with Bill back stage. Bill had heard me play a lot of times at Bean Blossom and other places. I had been out to his farm before. So there is Bill and I. He said lets hear you play something. So I started out with Paddy In The Turnpike. Man, Bill just blew up. I learned Paddy from Baker. It was Baker's version... :-( I guess I just forgot about that. Bill just went on about it was not how the tune went. It was the way that drunk played it! It was clear he was still upset at Baker. Bill could say a little thing and cause you turn white. I remember once while teaching me Tanyards on the bus he said, "Can't you hear that boy?" To have him explode was way worst. So, I quickly said, "Bill here is one of my Favorites!" and with that I started playing Wheel Hoss. So, I called up a former bass player and he did the show on bass so that their bass player could play fiddle. After the show Bob Black and I spent the next week working on the "Through The Windshield" album.

Kenny B. is my all time favorite fiddle player.

Bill’s my all time hero, but it would’ve been HARD to be in his band from all of the things I’ve read and heard!! And, when I didn’t think I could love Kenny Baker even more, Mark Hembree’s book made me do so. The story about the joint blew my mind, in a great way

I actually have a tape of this show where he quit. I should post it the next time I run across it.

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours talking to Mr. Baker, in a bar in NYC. He had a lot of stories.

And that is tea, spilt.

Mr. Baker will always be a Bluegrass Badass!

kenny was the star monroe was jealous thats all it was.

🇺🇲

Baker didn't want to play on blossom... It was stupid..