Biography

Pianist and arranger John Baumgardner teams up with long-time friends and altos Amy Hueneman and Markita Conner to form John Baumgardner & the Paper Doll Baptists. Although John has performed with each for more than twenty years, they are about to release their first CD together, the sometimes quirky, sometimes beautiful, Fruitcake with Nuts. The record is made up non-traditional arrangements of traditional Holiday tunes.

He began the project four years ago. And when it came time to find vocalists, he looked no further than Amy and Markita.

“I’ve worked with a lot of singers over the years, and have pursued opportunities with various bands,” he explained. “But I never found any other vocalists that gave me goose bumps when they sang. I’ve been spoiled by their voices. So naturally, when it was time to record, I called up my girls.”

Originally from a small town in Kentucky (population at the time: 300), John began arranging songs after becoming bored with hymns they sang in church. At 15, he decided to put a modern twist on “Jesus Loves Me.” Much to his surprise, it went over well. From that point on, he began arranging and modernizing older songs every opportunity he found.