Who is Glenn A Baker: Jimmy Barnes, Kate Cebrano lead tributes to broadcaster after death

The music world is paying tribute to celebrated broadcaster and music journalist Glenn A Baker, who died on Friday morning.

He was aged 74.

Baker was best known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of music, having claimed to own more than 80,000 records and 30,000 CDs in 2018.

Long-time friend and colleague Stuart Coupe shared the news of his death on Friday morning in a social media post.

“This is a post that I was hoping I wouldn’t be making for a considerable period of time, but after an illness Glenn A Baker passed away earlier this morning,” he wrote.

“I’m beyond sad.”

It was followed by a post from Baker’s family, who shared that his death came three days after his 74th birthday.

“Glenn’s contribution to the Australian rock ’n’ roll music landscape was immense, but his family remembers him as a loving father of six and grandfather of thirteen,” the Facebook post read.

“Glenn’s passion for music, travel, food and his family (still not entirely sure of the order) was, like his personality, larger than life.

“While the family wishes for privacy, if you do wish to honour Glenn or continue his legacy in some way, have a passionate conversation today with somebody about your favourite Australian muso or band.

“Rock on Glenn! You will be missed.”

While his cause of death has not yet been revealed, his son Orson recently told 702 ABC that his father had suffered from “a period of illness” and had been “declining for a while”, adding that he had previously had a stroke.

He described his father as “somebody who absolutely grabbed life, throttled it, and did everything that he wanted to do”, saying he had visited more than 150 countries.

The 74-year-old had six children and 13 grandchildren.

Baker started his career helping establish 2JJ — which later became triple j — and hosting a trivia program on the station before jumping over to Triple M.

For more than two decades, the music journalist was editor of Billboard magazine.

Baker managed the band Ol’55 and established Australian record label Raven Records in 1979.

His incredible and wide music knowledge won him BBC’s Rock Brain of the Universe three times throughout the 1980s.

Across his lifetime, he published 17 books, wrote more than 600 albums’ sleeve notes, and co-wrote music, including Ol’55’s (I Want a) Rockin’ Christmas.

A portrait of the music legend won the 2010 Archibald Packing Room Prize.

In 2018, Baker was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s birthday honours list for significant service to the entertainment industry through promoting, preserving and documenting popular music culture.

Baker is being remembered by musicians and others in the entertainment industry as a pioneer and champion of Australian music.

On Instagram, Jimmy Barnes paid tribute to the broadcaster.

“Glenn A Baker loved Australian music,” he wrote.

“He was the first person I’d turn to whenever I needed to know anything about our music history.

“He was always ready to help, drawing on his vast knowledge of popular music.“In fact, it was Glenn who sent me the song Good Times when I was looking for a song to record with INXS.“I’ll miss his insights, his incredible knowledge, and our conversations about music whenever we met.“RIP, Glenn.”

Barnes was joined by musician Kate Cebrano, who called Baker a “dear friend”.

“Au Revoir my dear friend,’ she wrote on Instagram.

“What a champion for musicians, songwriters and the music industry.

“Your absence is enormous.

“Erudite, generous, whimsical and totally himself!!!

“Fly free much love and respect x”

Marcia Hines also praised Baker’s legacy and career.

“A man to whom music was more than music,” she wrote.

“It was part of his life blood.

“His big, beautiful brain held the keys to a treasure trove of deep cuts that he rejoiced in and wrote about with the same prolific passion that is usually reserved for what readers/listeners would usually view as ‘the hits’.

“Glenn was a lover of the intricacies of song and sound.

“He was a generous supporter of the industry and a truly exceptional man.

“My heart goes out to his family, and all those who loved and knew him.”

In their tribute, Human Nature wrote that Baker was the “rock brain of the universe”, adding that he was “a true champion of the Aussie music industry”.