Barbara Baker

Barbara Baker’s music business career began in 1970 when she was hired as executive secretary to Ray Baker at Blue Crest Music Publishing Co. Her duties included song copywriting, songwriter contracts, typing song lyrics, ASCAP and BMI clearance forms, foreign sub-publishing rights, writer royalties, booking demo sessions, musician contracts and payments, in addition to daily correspondence and paying bills. Among the writers she worked with were Dallas Frazier, Whitey Shafer, A. L. “Doodle” Owens, and Lefty Frizzell. “There Goes My Everything”, “That’s The Way Love Goes” and “All I Have To Offer You Is Me” were some of Blue Crest Music’s major copyrights. In 1974 Acuff Rose Publishing acquired Blue Crest, and Barbara immediately went to work for Tree Publishing. She left Tree in 1975 and worked part-time for Frank Mull, record promoter. Later in 1975 she started managing Ray Baker Productions. Some of the artists Ray recorded were Merle Haggard, George Strait, Charley Pride, Connie Smith, Joe Stampley, Larry Boone, Moe Bandy, and Moe & Joe. Among the many hits during that time were “That’s The Way Love Goes”, “You Look So Good In Love”, “Just Good Ol’ Boys”. In 1978 she and Ray, by now her husband, started Baray and Honeytree Music Publishing Companies. She previewed songs from outside writers as well as Baray and Honeytree exclusive writers. One of Baray’s hit copyrights was “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas” by Alabama. Barbara retired from the music business in 1994. Since 2004, Barbara has made a ministry out of her baked goods by handing them out as people go through cancer treatments at Nashville’s Tennessee Oncology clinic. She’s known as the “Bread Lady,” thanks to her moving act of weekly community service.