Australian music historian Glenn A. Baker dies at 74

Glenn A. Baker, a towering figure in Australian music journalism, broadcasting, and collecting, died on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the age of 74. His passing, announced by his family and longtime colleague Stuart Coupe, followed a period of illness. Baker was celebrated for his encyclopedic knowledge of rock 'n' roll and his multifaceted career that shaped the nation's cultural landscape for over five decades.

Born in Sydney in 1952, Baker's passion for music was ignited in his youth by seeing the Beatles on television and hearing Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," an experience he described as an epiphany. He left school at 15 and by the mid-1970s was instrumental in the research project that led to the creation of radio station 2JJ, which later evolved into the national youth broadcaster triple j. Baker launched his own broadcasting career there before moving to Triple M, becoming a familiar and flamboyant presence on Australian radio and television.

His career extended far beyond the airwaves. Baker managed the band Ol'55 and co-founded the independent record label Raven Records in 1979, which specialized in reissues. His expertise was internationally recognized when he won...