The Mini Tones was a cabaret act formed by Jack Purvis and Kenny Baker, who toured night-clubs, theatres and working-men's clubs. When Kenny Baker was approached to play a role in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, he considered that leaving Purvis alone during the valuable summer season was a bad thing to do to a friend. Baker insisted that Purvis should be hired for the movie, too. Both Baker and Purvis would be eventually hired for the three films. After Purvis' death in 1997, The Mini Tones disbanded and Baker chose a new tour number called Kenny Baker.