ENTERING ITS FIFTIETH YEAR,
BAKER SOUND GOING STRONG
2014 marks fifty years since Norman Baker first set up his tape machines at the Oasis Motel on the Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Camden, NJ. His early success recording musical acts such as the Mummers enabled him to relocate to Center City, where he found a niche servicing advertising and corporate clients. Little did he know that his modest studio would evolve into an award-winning state of the art digital facility, with credits ranging from feature films and television, to national advertising and political campaigns, to audiobooks and original music. The Baker staff is grateful to all of our clients—particularly those in Philadelphia who have long supported us—for giving us the opportunity to fulfill Norman’s dream by pursuing our passion for audio production.
And there has been plenty to occupy us in recent months.
Actor Dakota Fanning recently made her debut at Baker Sound, rerecording dialog for the upcoming film Every Secret Thing. Actor Theo James (best known for Underworld:Awakening and starring roles on British TV) also visited the facility to work on the soon to be released sci-fi thriller Divergent from Red Wagon Entertainment. And in TV, recent projects include voice recording for Nickelodeon’s Lil’ Sam & Cat, Investigation Discovery’s Unusual Suspects, and Disney’s Sofia the First.
Meanwhile, Baker worked with BBH Global on advertising for the Audio Quattro, and with Team Detroit on new radio and TV spots for Lincoln Mercury. Oink Ink kept us in stiches with hilarious national radio spots for Jeopardy, NatGeo’s Doomsday Preppers, and TBS’ Cougartown, as well as work for Accountemps and promos for NBC’s Million Dollar Quiz. Producer David Witz transformed Studio B into a house of horrors as he developed spooooky in-store audio for Spirit Halloween Superstores with engineers Jeff King and James Carter. And of course Baker continues its ongoing sweeps work for WPVI and casino advertising production for Masterminds.
MONSTER TRACKS has been busy as well, providing a moving, minimalist score for spots announcing Cooper Hospital’s new partnership with the renowned cancer experts at MD Anderson. In-house composer Chuck Butler has also scored a series of spots for Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner, channeled Beethoven in new ads for West Chester University, designed sounds for two new bluetooth audio products from AudioVox, brought musical motivation to new Nutrisystem spots featuring Marie Osmond, and moved effortlessly between disco, synthpop, metal, rap, and other styles in a new national radio ad celebrating Alex Trebek’s thirtieth anniversary with Jeopardy, produced by the aforementioned Oink Ink.
In anticipation of our fiftieth anniversary, Baker President Rick DiDonato has been making improvements throughout the facility. Rick enlisted his father to erect a brick wall in our lobby to serve as a backdrop for new signage created by Aztec Signs & Graphics. And after learning that the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works had found the original molds used to create the artwork adorning our historic fireplace, Rick commissioned replacements for the three large panels that had been missing since the fireplace's rediscovery some years ago. Be sure to check out the restoration the next time you visit!
On a personal note, Baker Sound would like to congratulate folk music proponent and radio host Gene Shay on his induction to the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame. Gene has long been a member of the Baker family thanks to his "other" life as an ad producer, copywriter, and commercial announcer, and played a key role in the founding of the facility's MONSTER TRACKS music service. We couldn't be more pleased to see Gene recognized for his many achievements in the music industry. Finally, we'd like to congratulate Baker engineer Jeff King on his recent marriage to Rachel Messina. The couple tied the knot on November 1, 2013, and we're sure you'll join us in wishing them all the best as they embark on their new life together.
Here's wishing all of our clients and friends a healthy and prosperious New Year!
For additional information contact info@bakersound.com or phone 215-567-0400.