Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Entertainment
USA TODAY

Cream drummer Ginger Baker ‘critically ill,’ family asks for prayers

Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker of Cream perform onstage at Madison Sqaure Garden in 2005 in New York City. | Getty Images

Ginger Baker, the English drummer who co-founded the rock band Cream with guitarist Eric Clapton, is hospitalized in critical condition.

His family announced on Facebook Thursday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is “critically ill in hospital.” They asked Baker’s fans to “please keep him in your prayers.”

The announcement didn’t go into detail about the drummer’s illness, but when a fan tweeted, ”Is this for real,” Baker’s account replied, “Sadly yes.”

Announcement. Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you everyone

Posted by Ginger Baker on Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The news comes just a month after Baker celebrated his 80th birthday in August. USA TODAY reached out to the drummer’s rep for comment.

Baker is best known for forming the rock band Cream in the ’60s with Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce, who died in 2014. The short-lived group went on to sell 35 million albums in just over two years and was awarded the world’s first ever platinum disc for 1968 album ”Wheels of Fire.”

Their hit songs include “Sunshine of Your Love,” “I Feel Free,” “White Room” and “Crossroads.” Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Rolling Stone named Baker No. 3 of its 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Read more at usatoday.com.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.