Unknown Hinson

Stuart Daniel Baker (November 7, 1954), better known by his stage name, Unknown Hinson, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, comedian, actor, and voice actor.[2][3]

Unknown Hinson
Unknown Hinson performing in 2010
Background information
Birth nameStuart Daniel Baker
Born(1954-11-07)November 7, 1954
OriginAlbemarle, North Carolina, U.S.
GenresAmeripolitan, country comedy, psychobilly, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, voice actor
Years active1992–2020[1]
LabelsUniphone, Capitol, Coffin Case
Associated actsSquidbillies, Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters
Websiteunknownhinson.com

Origins

Stuart Daniel Baker, a music teacher and studio musician from Albemarle, North Carolina, created his alter-ego for The Wild Wild South, a Charlotte-area public-access program that featured comedy sketches and concert footage. Baker and co-star Don Swan played the characters of Unknown Hinson and Rebel Helms, respectively. After Swan's death in 1995, Baker created The Unknown Hinson Show, a direct spin-off of The Wild Wild South. The Unknown Hinson Show won Creative Loafing Charlotte's "Best Of" poll for Best Public-Access Television Show four years in a row.[4] After the series ended, Baker continued in his role as Unknown Hinson, performing live concerts and releasing several recordings.

Music

Live performer

Hinson has shared the stage with many notable rockabilly, country, and psychobilly acts such as The Reverend Horton Heat, Marty Stuart, Hank III, and Ed King. He has a strong cult following and many high-profile fans, including Ed King, Waylon Reavis of Mushroomhead, Billy Bob Thornton, and Matt Groening. Hank III, grandson of Hank Williams, has Hinson's face tattooed on his biceps.[5] In late 2008, working under his real name of Stuart Baker, Hinson was hired to play bass as well as lead guitar in Billy Bob Thornton's band The Boxmasters. For this gig, Baker appears without the familiar Unknown Hinson wardrobe and makeup, instead appearing in a vintage '60s suit, white shirt, and black pencil tie. His manager and booking agent was his wife, Margo Baker.[6][7]

According to a November 10, 2012, post on his Facebook page, Hinson decided to quit touring after 17 years. His last three show was Fort Wayne, Indiana, on November 17 in Covington, Kentucky. He cited rising costs and indicated his plans to find something new to do. After the death of his wife, Margo Baker, Unknown Hinson resumed touring again.[8]

On June 3, 2020, Baker had decided to stop playing for good, according to his Facebook page.[9] He wrote:

"My dear friends,

Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be playing anymore Shows. My hands are absolutely shot with Osteoarthritis. I love you all and I am grateful to you for supporting me for 50 plus years. God bless you,

-Stuart Baker/Unknown Hinson"

Dolly Parton controversy and fallout

On August 13, 2020, Hinson received backlash after posting controversial remarks about Dolly Parton, calling her a "bimbo" and "slut" on his Facebook page in response to a recent news article concerning Parton's support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Not long after this post, the Facebook page went offline, but returned on the following day with the posts concerning Parton removed.[10][11]

Reverend Guitars of Ohio abruptly stopped marketing their Stuart Baker signature series guitar on August 14, 2020 and posted, "we are no longer associated with Unknown Hinson. We have stopped production on his guitars and we have removed him from our website."[12] Many Adult Swim fans began urging Adult Swim to fire Baker the following day. A spokeswoman for Adult Swim stated, "we have no comment on this."[13] A few days later, it was announced he would no longer be voice acting on Squidbillies.[14]

Recording artist

Unknown Hinson writes his own music, performs live, and produces all of his own recordings. His music often parodies the dark elements of today's country and redneck culture. In early 2009, Hinson's "Torture Town" won in The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards and Vox Pop vote for Best Alternative Country Song "Torture Town".

Discography
Year Album Label
1999 The Future Is Unknown Uniphone Records
2002 Rock 'N' Rock Is Straight from Hell (Promo Release) Capitol Records
Rock 'N' Rock Is Straight from Hell (Main Release) Capitol Records
2004 The Future Is Unknown (Re-Release) Capitol Records Nashville
Selections from the Future Is Unknown (Promo Release) Capitol Records Nashville
2005 21 Chart Toppers (Promo Release) No Label
2006 Target Practice Coffin Case Records
2008 Live and Undead Uniphone Records / sdb Music
2012 Reloaded Uniphone Records / sdb Music
The Squidbillies Present Music for Americans Only Made by Americans in China for Americans Only God Bless America, U.S.A.[lower-alpha 1][15] Williams Street Records
  1. Credited on this album as both Unknown Hinson and Early Cuyler, the character he voices on Squidbillies

Voice acting

Hinson, credited as Baker, provided the voice of Early Cuyler, a balding hillbilly squid from Georgia, on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim program Squidbillies. The Early Cuyler character echoes Unknown Hinson in several ways, including an affinity for guns and "party liquor" and a "no-nonsense" alpha-male attitude.

Year(s) Production Role(s) Other notes
2005–20SquidbilliesEarly CuylerLead
2004Anime Talk ShowEarly CuylerTV Special
2010Carl's Stone Cold Lock of the Century of the WeekEarly CuylerGuest, 1 episode
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References
  1. https://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20061027/the-weird-wicked-world-of-unknown-hinson
  2. "Squidbillies Characters". AdultSwim.com. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  3. "It's good to be King: Unknown Hinson is a legend of his own making". TheDailyTimes.Com. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  4. "Into the Unknown | Asheville Arts and Entertainment | Mountain Xpress". Mountainx.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  5. "Inside the Heathen Mind of Hank III: An interview with country music's self-exiled prince". Boise Weekly. 2006-08-09. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  6. "Margo Elizabeth Cogan Baker Obituary: View Margo Baker's Obituary by Charlotte Observer". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  7. "Unknown Hinson: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  8. "Home". Unknown Hinson. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  9. "My dear friends, Unfortunately I don't..." June 3. line feed character in |title= at position 17 (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. "Facebook Post About Dolly Parton". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  11. Enis, Eli (August 13, 2020). "Dolly Parton Backs Black Lives Matter: "Do We Think Our Little White Asses Are the Only Ones That Matter?"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  12. "Unknown Hinson in hot water over Dolly Parton comments". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  13. "Fans urge Adult Swim to fire Unknown Hinson after alleged rant attacking Dolly Parton". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  14. https://twitter.com/squidbillies/status/1295120819870367745?s=21
  15. The Squidbillies Present Music for Americans Only Made by Americans in China for Americans Only God Bless America, U.S.A. official soundtrack free download from Adult Swim
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