Lennie Baker
Born(1946-04-18)April 18, 1946
Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 24, 2016(2016-02-24) (aged 69)
Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materWhitman-Hanson Regional High School
Northeastern University
Occupations
  • Singer
  • saxophone player
Spouse
Laura Campbell
​
(m. 1980⁠–⁠1989)​

Lennie Baker (April 18, 1946 – February 24, 2016) was an American singer and saxophone player for Sha Na Na.

Baker was born in Whitman, Massachusetts. He went on to become a member of the musical group Sha Na Na, doing vocals and playing sax.[1] He toured with the group, and appeared with them on the television series, Sha Na Na, which aired from 1978 to 1981.[2] He was also in the movie Grease with them, singing lead on the song "Blue Moon". He appeared in several other movies with the group, as well.

Baker graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he joined Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.[3]

Later life and death

Baker retired in 2000 to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. In January 2014, Lennie returned to support his alma mater, Whitman Hanson Regional High School and its drama club's production of Grease, singing "Blue Moon" as he did in the motion picture to a capacity crowd.[3] He died on February 24, 2016, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, at the age of 69. He had been hospitalized with an infection.[4] He was survived by his former wife Laura Campbell (1980-1989), 3 brothers, nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Movie appearances

  • 1972 - Dynamite Chicken - as himself with Sha Na Na
  • 1978 - Grease - with Sha Na Na as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers
  • 1994 - Woodstock Diary - as himself with Sha Na Na
  • 2003 - Festival Express - as himself with Sha Na Na

References

  1. ↑ Lundahl, Mark (April 29, 1984). "Sha Na Na finds there's a new life after Bowser". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. p. 43. Retrieved June 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ↑ Lentz, Harris III (June 2016). "Lennie Baker, 69". Classic Images (492): 50.
  3. 1 2 "Whitman native Lennie Baker, longtime Sha Na Na member, dies at 69". The Enterprise. Whitman, Massachusetts. March 2, 2016. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Lennie Baker, voice of Sha Na Na's 'Blue Moon,' dies at 69". The Hamilton Spectator. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
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