Mike Baker (singer) facts for kids

Mike Baker (born September 2, 1963 – died October 29, 2008) was a talented American singer. He was best known as the lead vocalist for the progressive metal band Shadow Gallery.

Mike Baker: A Musical Journey

Mike Baker was a very important part of the band Shadow Gallery. He helped form the group in 1985. Back then, the band was known by a different name, Sorcerer.

Becoming a Singer

Mike was mostly a self-taught singer. This means he learned to sing on his own, without formal lessons. When he was in high school, he actually started out playing the bass guitar. However, he found it tricky to sing and play bass at the same time. So, he decided to focus on singing and became the lead vocalist.

Before he helped create Sorcerer, Mike sang on demo recordings for other local bands. This was in the early 1980s. Some of these bands included Nasty Nasty and Axxis.

Musical Inspirations

Mike Baker was greatly inspired by many famous singers. He admired vocalists like Alice Cooper, Ronnie James Dio from Black Sabbath, Rob Halford from Judas Priest, and Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden. Mike took ideas from these amazing singers and bands. He used their musical styles to create his own unique way of singing.

Guest Appearances

Besides his work with Shadow Gallery, Mike also lent his voice to other projects. He sang as a guest vocalist on a song called Day Sixteen: Loser. This song was from the 2004 album The Human Equation by a project called Ayreon. He also sang on the Original Cast recording of Leonardo: The Absolute Man.

Remembering Mike Baker

Sadly, Mike Baker passed away on October 29, 2008. He was 45 years old. He died after having a heart attack. His passing was announced a few days later, on October 31, 2008.