Mickey & Sylvia (Mickey Baker and Sylvia Vanderpool) began their musical
relationship as teacher and student. Baker, a respected and prolific session
player and instructor, saw an opportunity for the two to team up as a guitar and
vocal duo, a la Les Paul & Mary Ford. The two successfully blended R&B with
early rock n’ roll for a decade, capped by their hit single “Love Is Strange”.
The duo released a handful of singles before the release of “Love is Strange” in
1956. Written by Bo Diddley (although he credited it to his wife), Mickey &
Sylvia’s version hit Number 1 on the R&B...