English guitarist Geoffrey Arnold Beck became famous as a member of the rock band the Yardbirds before forming his own bands, the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice.
In 1975, he transitioned to an instrumental style known for his innovative sounds, exploring a variety of genres in his work, including blues-rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, and a fusion of guitar rock and electronics.
contour
- Full name: Jeffrey Arnold Baker
- Stage name: Jeff Beck
- Date of birth: June 24, 1944
- Age: 78
- Birthplace: Warrington, England
- Nationality: United Kingdom – England
- Occupation: Guitarist
- Height: 1.78 m
- Parents: Arnold Beck, Ethel Beck
- Siblings: Anneta Beck
- Spouse: Patricia Brown, Sandra Cash
- Children: None
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $25 million
early life
Geoffrey Arnold Baker, later known as Jeff Baker, was born on June 24, 1944, in a suburb of London.
Unlike his mother who loved piano, Jeff was fascinated by electric guitar since he was a child.
He discovered that the instrument’sAttractive wooden board with knobs and switches” became irresistible.
At the age of ten, he developed his singing ability in the church choir, which laid the foundation for his musical talent.
As a teenager, he became interested in bands and became aTrident”, and gained important experience in live performance.
educate
Jeff Beck’s early education centered around visual arts rather than music. He attended art schools such as Sutton Manor School, Sutton East County Modern School, and Wimbledon School of Art in London.
Although Baker initially focused on art, he later left art school to pursue his love of music, especially playing guitar.
Despite his lack of formal musical training, Baker taught himself to play guitar and honed his skills through hard work, trial and error, and by drawing inspiration from guitarists such as Les Paul and Jimmy Page.
Profession
After Eric Clapton left, Baker joined the Yardbirds in 1964 and began his musical journey.
He is known for his innovative guitar techniques and unique style, which he created through the composition of ““More than less than more than” and “The shape of things.”
After leaving the Yardbirds, Baker began a solo career, exploring different musical styles and working with well-known musicians such as Jimmy Page and John McLaughlin.
In 1967, he formed the Jeff Beck Band, which included future Led Zeppelin members Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. The band became famous forBeck’s Bolero and “superstition”.
In 1972, Beck formed the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice, known for its sophisticated instrumental rock.
He subsequently moved toward a more experimental and instrumental style, incorporating jazz fusion, electronica, and other influences into his music. Albums include “Hit after hit” and “wired” showcased his sonic innovation and won critical acclaim.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Baker dabbled in a variety of musical genres and collaborated with musicians such as Sting, Cyndi Lauper and Imelda May.
In 1993, Beck released the albumCrazy Fingers”, which includes the Grammy-winning instrumental “Change is coming.”
Awards and nominations
- Best Rock Instrumental Performance Award winner (6 times):
- 1985: Runaway
- 1989: “Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas.”
- 1993: “High-Heeled Sneakers”
- 2001: Dirty Minds
- 2014: Morning Phase
- 2018: Colors
- Grammy Award: Best Pop Instrumental Performance (1 time):
- 1999: A Day in the Life
- Grammy Award: Nominated, Best Rock Performance (2 times):
- 2023: Patient 9 (with Ozzy Osbourne)
- 2012: “Rock Party (A Tribute to Les Paul)” (with various artists)
- Best Rock Album nomination (1 time):
- 2012: “Rock Party (A Tribute to Les Paul)” (with various artists)
- Best Pop Singer Collaboration Award (1 time):
- 2011: Imagine (with India Arie, Herbie Hancock and Pink)
- Best Rock Vocals or Group Nomination (1 time):
- 2011: I Put a Spell on You (with Joss Stone)
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice):
- 1992: As a member of the band Yardbirds
- 2009: As a solo artist
- Won the British Academy of Music’s Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music (2014)
- Ranked #5 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time (2023)
Social Media
- Instagram account: @jeffbeckofficial
- Facebook account: @jeffbeckmusic
- Twitter account: N/A
Personal life
Baker was married to Patricia Brown from 1963 to 1967 and later to Sandra Cash in 2005. They have no children.
At the time of his death he was living in a historic house called Riverhall in Wadhurst, East Sussex.
Baker has been a vegetarian since 1969 and supports the Folly Wildlife Rescue Foundation. He also has a passion for classic Ford hot rods, often modifying their exteriors and engines himself.
On January 10, 2023, 78-year-old Jeff Beck died of bacterial meningitis in a hospital near Riverhall. After the news of his death was announced, fellow musicians and friends expressed their condolences to him.
Jimmy Page said Baker’s unique musicianship would be greatly missed, while Mick Jagger said the world had lost a talented guitarist and an amazing human being.
Baker’s former bandmate Ronnie Woods expressed his grief at the loss of a close friend. Baker’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Beddington on February 3.
Discography
Studio albums:
- The Truth (1968)
- Baker-Ola (1969)
- Rough and Ready (1971)
- Jeff Beck Group (1972)
- Blow After Blow (1975)
- Wired (1976)
- Go and Return(1980)
- The Flash (1985)
- Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop (1989)
- Who Else! (1999)
- Misfortunes never come singly (2001)
- Jeff (2003)
- Emotion and Turmoil (2010)
- Speaker (2016)
- Hyperspace (2019)
- 18 (2022) (starring Johnny Depp)
Collaborative album:
- Beck, Bogert & Appice (1973) (co-authored with Beck, Bogert & Appice)
- Jeff Beck Live with Jan Hammer Group (1977) (with Jan Hammer Group)
- Frankie’s Place (1992) (with Jed Leiber)
- Crazy Legs (1993) (with Big Town Playboys)
- playboy
Live album:
- Ronnie Scott Live in Concert (2008)
- Tokyo Concert (2014)
- Live (2017) (with Hollywood Vampires)
Compilation albums:
- The Best of Baker (1985)
- The Ultimate Collection (1999)
- Jeff Beck: Greatest Hits (2006)
net worth
British rock guitarist Jeff Beck had amassed a fortune of $25 million when he died.
