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Cary Baker

not just a shallow career flack

About Me

My name is Cary Baker and I operate the music PR firm conqueroo. I have worked in the music PR field for more than 30 years and am proud to say that conqueroo is a no- compromise company: I have to feel passionate about every artist we represent. When I am passionate about music, great things have a way of happening.

Conqueroo clients past, present and recurrent: The Band of Heathens, Richard Barone, Big Sandy, Elvin Bishop, Blues Traveler, Paul Brady, David Bromberg, Stephen Bruton, Caitlin Cary, Marshall Chapman, Ray Charles catalog, Jon Cleary, Slaid Cleaves, Coal Porters, Concord Records catalog, Susan Cowsill, Robert Cray, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Cropper/Felix Cavaliere, Rodney Crowell, Chris Darrow, The dB's, Del Fuegos, Dennis Diken, Gabe Dixon, Thomas Dolby, Steve Forbert, Ruthie Foster, Andy Friedman, Kinky Friedman, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs, Jon Dee Graham, Great American Taxi, The Greencards, Hank III, Richard X Heyman, Peter Himmelman, Hobart Brothers, Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, Honeydripper (John Sayles), Hoodoo Gurus, Hot Club of Cowtown, Ray Wylie Hubbard, I See Hawks in L.A., Kate Jacobs, Freedy Johnston, Diana Jones, Ivan Julian, Candye Kane, Keb' Mo', Paul Kelly, Scott Kempner, Bap Kennedy, Hal Ketchum, Tommy Keene, Bill Kirchen, Jake La Botz, Sonny Landreth, Sam Llanas, Lucero, Raul Malo, Eleni Mandell, Marley's Ghost, Jimbo Mathus, Mavericks, Anne McCue, James McMurtry, Memphis Music Foundation, Scott Miller, Ryan Montbleau Band, Ian Moore, Gurf Morlix, Shawn Mullins, Nakia, Tracy Nelson, Gary Nicholson, Willie Nile, NRBQ, Christine Ohlman, David Olney, Over The Rhine, Patrolled by Radar, Lucky Peterson, Ed Pettersen, Pine Leaf Boys, Steve Poltz, Ponderosa Stomp, Real Gone Music, Vernon Reid, Stan Ridgway, Chelle Rose, Arlen Roth, Mitch Ryder, Martin Sexton, Billy Joe Shaver, Harry Shearer, Michelle Shocked, Shoes, Chris Smither, Amy Speace, Stax Records catalog, Stew & the Negro Problem, Chris Stills, Stone River Boys, Sugar Blue, Otis Taylor, Tea Leaf Green, Paul Thorn, Pam Tillis, Tres Chicas, The Trishas, Trombone Shorty, Uncle Monk, Verve Music Group, Loudon Wainwright III, Wagons, Seth Walker, Was (Not Was), Randy Weeks, Bill Wyman.

Before I launched conqueroo, I worked as VP of Publicity (department head) at Capitol Records, I.R.S. Records, Discovery Records and Morgan Creek Records. Over the years, I have spearheaded publicity campaigns for R.E.M., The Finn Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Shelby Lynne, Delbert McClinton, Cheap Trick, Loudon Wainwright III, Alex Chilton, Susan Tedeschi, Tina Turner, Concrete Blonde, Frank Zappa and more.

Prior to becoming a publicist, I worked as a music journalist for publications such as the Chicago Reader, Creem and Trouser Press. I have been a voting member of the Recording Academy (NARAS) since 1979 and a former Governor. I served on the Board of Directors of the Americana Music Association, and on the Music Industry Committee of City of Hope. I have attended SXSW for 24 consecutive years.

We begin work most days at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time as we feel it’s important for a West Coast-based PR firm to work in real time with East Coast media. If you visited our offices, you’d hear NPR in the background. We recognize the value of this powerful media outlet for our artists. We read and note the bylines in major magazines and newspapers — we’ve known many of them for more than two decades and make the effort to meet new ones every day. We work with all the key online music ‘zines and blogs, including placement of mp3s and videos. We also have longtime relationships with TV talent executives. Your project is worked from every angle.

I personally work all projects that Conqueroo takes on, so your project is represented by a veteran who has longstanding relationships with media tastemakers. I am now joined by two additional experienced publicists who help bring added presence to artists while on the road and online.

If you’re looking to enlist an indie music publicity for your project, I hope you’ll consider us. Check what some of our clients have said about us on the Testimonials page. We look forward to talking with you.