Biography
James Britt Baker, 17 June 1913 (but over the years various other dates have been given, including 7 July 1912), near Marshall, Arkansas, USA, d. 23 June 1972, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, USA. Britt’s father was a champion fiddle player and his mother a noted singer. He learned to sing and play guitar and was performing in public by the age of 12. After hearing recordings by Riley Puckett and Jimmie Rodgers, he became interested in yodelling and soon became proficient at the art. In the early 30s he joined the Beverly Hillbillies, and appeared with them on KMPC Hollywood. When the group split in 1932, Britt moved with Zeke Manners to New York, where (under various aliases) the pair recorded for ARC. Britt entered and won a yodelling competition organized by cowboy star Tom Mix, in spite of the challenge of leading exponents from Switzerland and Bavaria. The win saw Britt become known as the unofficial world yodelling champion. He made his first solo...
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