Jo Baker

Jo Baker (September 6, 1948 – November 11, 1996) was an American vocalist and songwriter, known primarily for her work with Elvin Bishop and Stoneground. History Early history Jo Baker was named after performer Josephine Baker. She was born and spent her childhood and adolescence in Brockton, Massachusetts, near Boston, as a member of one of the founding families of the community. Her paternal grandfather, General Baker, a descendant of slaves, was the founding Deacon of Lincoln Congregational Church, established in 1897. Her aunt, Mary E. Baker (d. 1995), the youngest daughter of the twelve children of General Baker and his wife Nannie, was the first African-American to work at Brockton City Hall, following her graduation from Brockton High School in 1941. In her honor, a new Brockton school was named after her in 2008, with Mary E. Baker being the first woman and the first African-American to be so honored by the city. Jo Baker was from a family of six children. She had four sisters and a brother. She also came from a family with a significant military tradition. Her father, Harrison, was a veteran of World War II, decorated for service in the Pacific, followed by a lifelong involvement with veterans organizations. The family later moved from Brockton to the Teaticket community of Falmouth, Massachusetts.