Veteran music industry insider Cary Baker has made a triumphant return to his literary roots with the release of his definitive history of street performance. ‘Down On The Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music’ traces the vibrant evolution of public performance from the 1920s to the modern digital era. Drawing on decades of firsthand observation and over a hundred interviews, Baker reveals how the sidewalk has served as a vital training ground for some of the biggest names in music.
The book captures incredible origin stories from artists like the Violent Femmes and Lucinda Williams, who honed their craft for passersby long before reaching global stardom. Baker’s journey with the subject began as a teenager in Chicago, where the soulful slide guitar of Blind Arvella Gray at the Maxwell Street Market sparked a lifelong fascination. From the subways of New York to the Tube stations of London, the narrative explores the resilience and stagecraft required to perform when the audience is never guaranteed.
Beyond the famous faces, the text celebrates the career buskers who have made the curbs and parks their permanent workplace. With a foreword by Grammy winner Dom Flemons, the book offers a heartfelt look at the shift from tin cups to QR codes. This exploration serves as a reminder that the world is a better place when music remains an organic part of our daily urban landscape. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever stopped to drop a dollar in a hat.