I spent a very pleasant evening with Don Baker recently at ‘The Crows Nest’, Ballsbridge.
This agile figure has a fresh complexion and soft tones of grey in a military style haircut, reflecting a discipline with perfect turnout in his deportment.

He conveys the impression of a man in a hurry and always going somewhere.

In fact, Don did spend some time in the army but his life from an early age has been one of self-education and music.

While spending a period of time in hospital at the tender age of seven he began to teach himself the harmonica. From here he progressed to the guitar in his teens and has become a very fine musician in both instruments.

While he had some lessons on the guitar, he has perfected his art to the extent that he composes and writes his own material.

To write a song can take him anything from ten minutes to five months. He composes the music first and the lyrics follow.

He has seven CD’s on general release to his credit. He also has written five books on how to teach yourself the harmonica, which have been translated into seven languages.

Always quick and eager to learn, he mastered German and Dutch while busking around Europe for a period of five years at the start of his career. His natural talent brought an inflow of money and friends and he was never without a bed or a roof over his head.

He enjoyed this period of his life because of the personal freedom that went with it. He has travelled extensively and met many famous people, some of whom have been very influential in his life, including Larry Adler, but he claims Larry has also learnt a great deal from him.

It is perhaps ironic that he has no love for America, but at the same time specializes in soul music, rhythm and blues, which is a product of the U.S.

In his latter years he has no liking for travel at all but just loves Ireland and prefers to preform here.

His trips abroad are infrequent and only at the request of his agent. But perhaps his choice of music is reflected in the man himself, whose deep, introverted, spiritual search has led him to express himself with a great love for his fellow man and this he clearly demonstrates with energy and emotion in his music.

His private life centres around continuous self-education, meditation and travel throughout the country to preform his music.

He reads books continously. He is shortly to take a diploma in spiritual healing, but his philosophy is one of simplicity.

There are two great emotions, he says, “love and fear and love must conquer fear if we are to find inner security.”

Therefore, it is necessary for us to change if we are to attain that deep sense of well-being. But he admits, to change, is probably the most difficult task before us.

As yet, he has no idea how he is going to give up smoking but he believes it would be a good thing to do. He accepts the existence of God but he has no concept of God.

But he asserts that the starting point is self awareness. We should get to know and love ourselves first, then others. It is through this interaction with other people that we begin to know and love ourselves and others and in so doing share and participate in some way with God.

Although Don is a wealthy man, originally from Whitehall, he now has a fine home in Co. Meath and while he feels basic material necessities are essential in life, he is not overtly attached to these.
His spiritual and mental well-being and his love for others take priority. He is a man with great versatility.

His musical career has led him into acting, for which he displays a natural talent. He has appeared in three films including ‘In The Name Of The Father’, from which he has derived memorable friendships. He has also had frequent appearances on T.V.

His huge repertoire has brought him a large audience and a dedicated following. He is a natural and confident musician, who plays guitar with perfect precision and his six varieties of harmonica give him a range and tone which reach into the inner cords of the heart.

At times, he almost makes the harmonica dance and often uses it to convey the sound of a train in motion, like himself, whose philosophical outlook is one of a journey with continous attainment of knowledge while maintaining a balance and self-discipline.

He has a quick and open mind with a capacity for learning and listening to others. He comes from a family of five, one brother and three sisters but he is the shining light of the family.

Ireland can indeed be proud of Don Baker, of his many achievements, his versatility and talent.
He is currently playing at Jury’s Hotel until the 24th of December He can be heard again in Crowes Pub in Ballsbridge next September for six consecutive Sundays, so that is one for the diary.