From ages 8 to 14, Baker was educated at St. Mary's Convent in Independence, Missouri, receiving piano and voice lessons.

[1] Yet another account has her running away from school and home to Leavenworth, MO, and finding work playing piano in a moving picture house.

[2] In September 1919, "Edythe Baker" was billed with Willie Smith in a Vaudeville act in Fall River, MA.

Yet "An offer to do a “blues” bit... drew such attention to her skill that she soon signed a contract" with Fox "and is now being besieged by musical comedy companies.

"[4] Just a month later, Baker is noted as having signed a two-year contract with Aeolian Records to make player piano rolls.

"After leaving here [Kansas City, MO] two years ago" Baker "has been headlining on the Keith circuit as a pianist and composer... she will be featured in theaters in New York and vicinity by the Aeolian company."

[1] In 1920 she auditioned for Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. "A piano was placed on the great bare stage of the New Amsterdam Theatre and the girl went to it."

One account stated that "Her act is entitled 'Ten Fingers of Syncopation,' and her playing makes it difficult for members of the audience to keep their feet still.

Rodgers highly regarded Baker and mentioned her kindly in his autobiography, noting her novel performance style.