Chet Baker

Birth Name: Chesney Henry Baker

Date of Birth: December 23, 1929

Place of Birth: Yale, Oklahoma, U.S.

Date of Death: May 13, 1988

Place of Death: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ethnicity: Norwegian (maternal grandmother), English, German, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish

Chet Baker was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for his major innovations in cool jazz. He was nicknamed the “Prince of Cool.”

Chet was the son of Vera Pauline, a pianist, who worked at a perfume factory, and Chesney Henry Baker, a professional guitarist. He was raised partly in Glendale, California. He had a son with his former wife Halema Alli; and three children with his former wife Carol Jackson.

Chet’s paternal grandfather was George Washington Baker (the son of Williamson D. Baker and Nancy Caroline Adams). George was born in Pope, Illinois. Williamson was the son of Benjamin Baker and Maltida Bozeman. Nancy was the daughter of Bailey/Baily Adams and Jammima Jones.

Chet’s paternal grandmother was Alice Wood (the daughter of David Wood and Nancy Lucinda Kee). Alice was born in Jackson, Illinois. David was the son of William Wood and Amelia McKinney. Nancy was the daughter of Andrew Henderson Kee and Julia Ann Johnson.

Chet’s maternal grandfather was Solomon/Soloman Wesley Moser (the son of Henry Solomonson Moser and Nancy Ann Elizabeth Wilson). Solomon was born in Union, Iowa. Henry was the son of Solomon Moser and Mary Ann Foust, and was of German descent. Nancy was the daughter of James Blackburn Wilson and Martha Russom, and had English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish and Irish, ancestry.

Chet’s maternal grandmother was Randi Iversdatter Toset/Thoseth (the daughter of Iver Arntsen Toset/Thosath and Sigri/Sigrid Sara/Sarah Arntsdatter Brattset). Randi was born in Toset gård, Rennebu, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. Iver was the son of Arne/Arnt Iversen Stai/Toset and Gjertrud/Gertrud/Gertrude Pedersdatter Toset. Sigrid was the daughter of Arnt/Arn Angrimsen Brattset and Ingeborg/Ingborg Eriksdatter Bjerkaker/Bjerkakaer.

Sources: Genealogy of Chet Baker – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogies of Chet Baker (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com
https://www.wikitree.com