Musician Don Baker talks about the disease of alcoholism and his recovery.
Dubliner Don Baker learned to play the harmonica as a child when he was hospitalised with TB (tuberculosis) and was drawn to blues music. He grew up in a tough environment in inner city Dublin and was sent to St Conleth's in Daingean, County Offaly, an industrial reformatory school with a notoriously harsh regime.
As a young man, he spent time in prison and learned to play the guitar, later joining the Defence Forces and leaving to go on the road as a full time musician. Over time, he created a successful career in music.
Six years ago, he sought help for alcoholism and began to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He tells Gay Byrne that practicing humility was the starting point of his process of recovery. Acceptance of his problem followed, but
Willingness is the key.
A counsellor’s definition of an alcoholic came as a surprise to Don Baker. He did not realise that well off successful people can be affected by this disease, which impacts every facet of someone’s life.
It gets you mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially.
Having rejected institutional religion, Don Baker says he has found a spirituality he feels comfortable with, and now lives by a simple philosophy,
I just live one day at a time.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 21 September 1990. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
