Chet Baker

Chet Baker (1929–1988) was a legend of West Coast cool jazz, known for his lyrical trumpet playing and melancholic voice. He emerged on the Los Angeles scene in the early 1950s, initially alongside Charlie Parker and then in Gerry Mulligan's famous quartet, where his rendition of "My Funny Valentine" established him. With the album Chet Baker Sings (1954), he also became known as a very distinctive singer. However, his drug addiction marked his career, leading to imprisonments and periods of decline, as well as an extended stay in Europe for much of his career. In the 1970s, he made a powerful comeback to recording and performing, primarily in Europe. He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, leaving an invaluable legacy to jazz.