Nicholas Alexander Baker, DOB 01/09/1981, Glendale, AZ Nick has been into music almost from the moment he was born. At 6 months of age he was reaching to the keys of a piano and instead of pounding on them, as a typical baby of that age would do, he would touch them gently and very melodically. By age 2 he was playing simple songs like Happy Birthday. At age 5 his hands were large enough to start playing chords! That is when the fun really began. He called to me from the piano that "this is how Grandpa's clock chimes sound" and began to play the Westminster Chimes, the St. Michael and the Whittington chimes! Nick played some very familiar music one afternoon, some of the piano work of George Winston. I asked his teacher about the music and she said they had played the "Winter" CD at naptime that week! Nick has perfect pitch, almost instant recall (he literally can hear a new piece of music one time and play it perfectly). Nick has an infinite catalog of songs in his head. Very few times can he be stumped! When someone names a tune- he almost always knows it and can even tell you who first recorded it, when it was on the Top Ten, etc. He started writing original music in 2000. He wrote the piece Bad Behavior Blues as an apology for the bus incident he sings about. Think Positive was written for his father, Mark Baker. His dad was a strong supporter of Nick's talent. Before he died in Feb. of 2001 he got to hear those two songs recorded. Nick seemed to kick into high gear after his dad passed. He has used the song writing as a way of dealing with his grief and loss. Nick has an older brother, Michael Baker (27) and a half brother Daniel Passage (17). He lives with his mom, Kathy and his stepfather Raymond Passage in Edmonds, WA. Nick has pursued music, both in vocal and jazz instrumental groups through out his school years. In Arizona, his Mountain Sky Jr. High Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at Disneyland's Carnation stage in CA two years in a row. His family moved to Washington State in the fall of 1995. Nick was overjoyed to visit at the Washington State School for the Blind and find out about the music department! Craig Russell, the music instructor at that time, even had a recording studio at the school. This was the perfect environment for Nick to polish and improve his wonderful natural talent. Nick was very active at WSSB in both the Jazz band - Out of Sight and the Honors Choir- In Harmony, now under the direction of Jennifer Hervey. In Harmony has released a CD, A Cappella, which features Nick in several solo parts and on the piano. Nick has won several awards for both vocal talent and playing piano at state music competitions for WSSB. Nick worked with his former instructor, Craig Russell, in his recording studio for the last year to create his new solo CD, Think Positive, Songs With A Message. His music can be enjoyed on many levels and everyone finds meaning in his words. New album: JINGLE JAZZ is out October of 2004. It is a collection of Holiday favorites with upbeat Jazz arrangements featuring Nick on keyboard and vocals. Nick is currently enrolled at Shoreline Community College, Music department. His music instruction classes have earned him "Outstanding" honors in both Classical Voice and Classic Piano Juries. Nick would tell you that his favorite class is Funken Groove under the direction of Bruce Spitz! In addition to performances on campus, this ensemble of elite musicians performs at local clubs like Goldie's in Shoreline and About the Music in Seattle. Nick has also performed at Benefit Concerts for both Multiple Sclorosis Helping Hands, the Western Region Lions Clubs and other organizations in WA state. Nick visits schools and inspires students with his music. He enjoys community service work, playing piano at Senior Centers. He is frequently a "guest pianist" at Faith Community Church services in Edmonds. He is a very versatile individual and musician.