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Ginger Baker, King of the Drums, Dead at 80

Photo: Jorgen Angel/Redferns

Ginger Baker, one of the most influential drummers in the history of modern music, has died at the age of 80. Baker’s family confirmed in a message on social media that he “passed away peacefully†on Sunday morning, after reports surfaced last month that he was critically ill while undergoing a lengthy hospital stay. Baker, a natural showman with a penchant for volatile behavior, is arguably best known for co-founding the rock supergroup Cream alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, with the trio achieving a significant amount of cross-genre success with songs such as “White Room,†“Sunshine of Your Love,†and “Strange Brew.†When the group disbanded, Rolling Stone notes, Baker proceeded to explore his interests in jazz and Afrobeat drumming in the ensuing decades, and became a leading figure in the jazz fusion and world music genres.

Ginger Baker, King of the Drums, Dead at 80