Session Drummer | Studio Drummer | Touring and Worship Drummer for Hire | Dale Baker | Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, NC

"Kiss Me" listed as a "sweet" stadium song on ESPN.Com

Sharing the honors with other notable stadium songs such as, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions," by Queen; "Welcome To The Jungle," by Guns N' Roses; "Hot In Herre," by Nelly, a song I played drums on has been listed as a favorite stadium song by none other than Eric Neel, celebrated ESPN columnist...

Here's the quote:

"Kiss Me," Sixpence None The Richer: None of my choices embarrasses me more, but there is something charming about this tune, and about the way stadiums are using it to prompt couples to smooch in the stands. I like the old couple genuinely surprised to be on the big screen, the young couple a little overzealous with the tongues, and the not-really-a-couple couple who is about to find out, in front of all of us, if their relationship is headed for the next level."
Eric Neel
ESPN.com columnist

For the full article, steer your browser on over to here.

Pretty cool, huh?

I'll be on the radio...

According to Word Distribution, (via the vine):

"Christian radio single 'Loser Like Me' shipping to AC, CHR, and
ROCK radio formats in September 2004"

This song features my drumming (unless they re-recorded the drum tracks, which is doubtful), so be sure to call in to your favorite radio station and request the song! It's a catchy, hopping little pop ditty. I think you'll like it.

It's one of the songs that was recorded for Divine Discontent back in 1999 that didn't make the final release of the record. My guess is that it's being released now to coincide with the Sixpence "Best of" record due out in October.

The title of today's blog is taken from a lyric in one of "the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers" songs...

but are they REALLY Christian...?

This originally appeared on the Vine discussion group...I thought I'd reprint it here for the fun of it...

Dale Baker drumming on new "Best Of" Sixpence compilation

Unless they re-recorded some of the songs I played on, it appears I'm on at least 15 of the 18 tracks on the new Sixpence "Best Of" compilation...

Artist Info: Sixpence None the Richer Best of Compilation
Record Label: Word Records
Album length: 18 tracks
Street Date: October 26, 2004

Loser Like Me (new song) (dale on drums)
Us (new song) (dale on drums)
Too Far Gone (new song) (dale on drums)
The Ground You Shook (from compilation Roaring Lambs) (dale on drums)
Kiss Me (from Sixpence None The Richer) (dale on drums)
Breathe Your Name (Divine Discontent) (dale on drums)
Melody Of You (Divine Discontent) (dale on drums)
Dancing Queen (from Dick Soundtrack) (dale on drums)
Don't Dream It's Over (Divine Discontent)
There She Goes (from Sixpence None The Richer) (dale on drums)
I Need Love (from Here On Earth Soundtrack) (dale on drums)
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (from compilation Making God Smile)
Breathe (from compilation Streams) (dale on drums)
Brighten My Heart (from compilation Exodus) (dale on drums)
Angeltread (This Beautiful Mess) (dale on drums)
Within A Room Somewhere (This Beautiful Mess) (dale on drums)
Trust (Reprise) (The Fatherless And The Widow)
Kiss Me (Japanese commercial single version import) (dale ond drums)

Track Listing and Release date courtesy of Jesus Freak Hideout

my quick credentials:

I was putting together this info for something else and so thought I'd copy it here, just in case...

Briefly, my credentials are thus:

Education:
Graduate of University of North Texas with a degree in Music
Studied Ethnic Percussion (cuban, brazilian, javanese, balinese, african) as well as played in all the major music ensembles (jazz, and commercial) and worked briefly as a percussionist for the University Dance Dept.

College Experience:
While in college, I played drumset for various theatrical productions, a circus, a vaudeville review and worked at an amusement park. In addition I appeared as an actor on a syndicated children's series ("Photon"). I was one of three drummers chosen from a nation-wide audition to play in a 20 piece marching jazz ensemble (the All-American College Marching Band) at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. I was subsequently hired to return as Assistant Director for that same band the following season.

Post College Experience:
Upon graduation, I worked as a session drummer in Dallas, playing jingles for Southwest Airlines, Pepsi, and many others. I also played drums for a variety of bands, ranging from Jazz Trios, to Reggae to folk to contemporary Gospel.

In 1993, I joined Sixpence None the Richer and played/ recorded/ toured with them until January of 2001. During my time with Sixpence the band was nominated for multiple Dove awards, Grammy Awards and Nickelodean Kid's Choice awards. Recordings I played on were certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA and in 1999 my drumming was featured on the most played song ("Kiss Me")in over 10 countries.

In addition to my work with Sixpence, I've recorded with a diverse array of artists, most notably, Emmylou Harris, Natalie Imbruglia, Stewart Copeland, Michael W. Smith, Plumb, and Jars of Clay.

Currently, I live in Durham, NC where I teach beginning drum lessons privately and through the local arts council. I record for a variety of folk artists and singer/songwriters.

Web Links:
My official web site is located at: http://www.dalebakerdrummer.com/
My official bio is located at: http://www.dalebakerdrummer.com/dbdbio.htm
My Discography can be viewed at: http://www.dalebakerdrummer.com/dbddisc.htm
My demo can be listened to at: http://www.dalebakerdrummer.com/dbddemo.htm

Need a drummer?
I am currently looking for opportunities to tour, record and produce. You can contact me via email ( dalebakerdrummer [at] earthlink [dot] net ).

Upcoming shows

I'll be playing with The Basics and the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers in the coming days...so here's the info, should you be able to make it out to the gigs...

Sunday July 18
The Basics
w/ Peter Nevland and Paul Finley opening
showtime: 7:00pm
venue: The Gathering (@ Chapel Hill Bible Church)
260 Erwin Road,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
call 919-408-0310 for ticket info...

Saturday, July 24
Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
with Br. Danielson
showtime: 9:30pm
venue: Soapbox Laundro-Lounge
Wilmington, NC

New Recordings, release dates

Stuff I've recorded before but due to be re-released in the fall:

Sixpence None the Richer -- The Best of Sixpence None the Richer (Oct. 12)

compilation -- Exodus re-release (Oct. 5) features "Brighten My Heart" by Sixpence with me on drums, Kenny Meeks on gtr, Chris Donohue on bass, Michael W. Smith on organ, Matt on guitar, etc and Leigh on vocals...excellent mixing by Brian Lennox. One of the tracks I'm most proud of...you can hear an excerpt of it on my demo (track 5) here.

okay, I think I figured out how to send notifications...

So for those of you who are already on the notification list, I apologize for sending this out again...but I'm needing to check to see if this works...(my email address wasn't on the original notification list...)

I promise not to bombard you with useless info...I'll probably only send out notifications for gigs, tour dates, and record releases...

And if you ever want to be removed from the notification list, just let me know by responding to the email address listed (hopefully) in the email that's sent...

This looks like a good read...

Here's a book that's due out in August 2004...
Promises to Keep Technology, Law, and the Future of Entertainment
William W. Fisher III (the Hale and Dorr Professor of Intellectual Property Law and Director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School)

more info about DRM/ Copyright/ File Sharing

I read another great article from the Register today (originally from Feb, 2004) about copyright issues related to file sharing/ music downloads and thought I'd mention it...here's a quote from the full article:

"I call it Tarzan economics. They think they have to cling to a vine of revenue because it's the vine they're used to, and if they let go they fall to the jungle floor. You very quickly grab the next vine, but until it's there for you, you cling to the one you've got. It's a question of timing - when that vine will appear. We live in a time of transition." - Jim Griffin (former head of Geffen's technology group)

New Stuff for sale at dbdrummer: the online store!

I've finished updating my online store and have a whole new range of items available for purchase.

Pick up a coffee mug for your home or studio or purcase a lunch box for the upcoming school year! Plus, take a look at the new t-shirts and styles available.

My online store is made available by the fine folks at Cafe Press. Check 'em out!

Photo of Dale with Bob Clearmountain, Russ Long, and Steve Taylor

Thanks to Rob Seals for finding this on the web! I didn't even know this photo existed out there...anyway, this pic is from the mixing sessions Bob did for the self-titled Sixpence record back in, oh, that was probably 1997 or 1998? He remixed "Sister Mother," "Love," and "Kiss Me."

Pictured L to R: Dale Baker, Bob Clearmountain, Russ Long, and Steve Taylor.

(FYI: Russ was the engineer for the "self-titled" Sixpence Record and he did all the tracking and all of the initial mixes. Steve was the Producer of that record. This photo was taken at "Mix This" out in LA.)