CJ Baker
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, CJ was blessed as a young boy to have the gift of playing the drums. As a child, his constant beating on pots and pans would be the start of something beautiful. He received his first set of drums at the age of five. By the time CJ was eight, he was playing at church becoming the full-time drummer at 13. Realizing God had blessed him with the gift, he began to put his all into developing his talent. He started venturing outside of the church, performing with other musicians. By age 18, CJ had made a name for himself in Raleigh and its surrounding cities.
CJ studied under drummers Thomas Taylor (NCCU Drum Instructor), Ivan Hampden (Luther Vandross) and Jeff “Tain” Watts (Branford Marsalis) while attending North Carolina Central University. He has toured throughout the United States as well as internationally including the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, and Africa. CJ has appeared on the nationally televised drama series, “Vampire Diaries” and “Greenleaf” and performed in the 2018 Netflix original series, “Westside.” Additionally, CJ has been featured in several clinics and plays.
CJ has worked with various national artists such as Tamar Braxton,Donna Missal, Jackiem Joyner, Phil Denny, Julian Vaughn, B-Slade (Tonex), Tisha Campbell-Martin, Rickey Smiley, Da Brat, The Temptations, Mike Phillips, Avery Sunshine, Jaguar Wright, Tony Rich, Rudy Currence, Blanche McAllister-Dykes, Peabo Bryson, Donnie McClurkin, Tony Terry, Walt Whitman, DeWayne Woods, Micah Stampley and Jimmy Hicks.
In 2013, CJ established his own band, the CJ Baker Band which has played across the country. In 2018, the CJ Baker Band provided music for The Music Legend Awards in Columbus, Georgia and was a part of Durham, North Carolina’s Art of Cool Festival lineup.
With a background in Gospel, R&B, and Jazz, CJ brings a hard-hitting finessed style of playing. He loves making music and believes that it should move and speak to people as never before.
CJ Baker is endorsed by Los Cabos Drumsticks, Cympad, 64 Audio, Gator Cases, Lowboy Beaters, Big Fat Snare Drum, Evans Drumheads, and DrumKubes.