Anita Baker

Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958)[1] is an American singer-songwriter. She is regarded as one of the most popular singers of soulful romantic ballads during the height of the quiet storm period of contemporary R&B in the 1980s.[1] Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single "Sweet Love". As of 2017, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has five platinum albums and one gold album.[2][3][4][5]

Anita Baker
Baker in 1998
Background information
Birth nameAnita Denise Baker
Born (1958-01-26) January 26, 1958
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active1979–2013
2018–present
Labels
Associated acts

Early life

Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio. When she was two, her mother abandoned her and Baker was raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan.[6]

When Baker was 12, her foster parents died and her foster sister raised her afterwards.[6] By the time Baker was 16, she began singing R&B at Detroit nightclubs. After one performance, she was discovered by bandleader David Washington, who gave her a card to audition for the funk band, Chapter 8.

Baker joined Chapter 8 in 1975 and the group toured until securing a deal with Ariola Records in 1979. The group's first album, Chapter 8, was released that year and featured the singles "Ready for Your Love," a duet between Baker and bandmate Gerald Lyles, and the Baker-led "I Just Want to Be Your Girl."[7]

After Ariola was bought out by Arista Records in 1979, Chapter 8 was dropped by the label who were convinced that Baker, as the group's lead singer, didn't have "star potential."[8] Baker returned to Detroit, working as a waitress and a receptionist until, in 1982, Otis Smith, a former associate of Ariola, convinced Baker to start a solo career under his Beverly Glen label.

Music career

Baker released her debut solo album, The Songstress, in 1983.[1] The album produced four singles: "No More Tears" and its B-side, "Will You Be Mine", "Angel" and "You're the Best Thing Yet". "Angel" became Baker's first top ten single, reaching number five on the R&B charts in late 1983. "You're the Best Thing Yet" followed it in the R&B top 40 early the following year.

Despite this early success, Baker later complained that she hadn't received any royalties from the work. In addition, the label delayed work on Baker's follow-up of The Songstress. By 1984, after two years, Baker sought to leave the label but was sued by Smith for breach of contract in 1985. After months in court debating the matter, it was concluded that Baker should be allowed to record for other labels, winning the case against Smith. Baker then signed with the Warner Music Group-associated Elektra Records label in 1985 and began working on her next album. Her Elektra contract allowed the singer to have creative control and produce her own music.

Baker used her old Chapter 8 bandmate, songwriter and producer Michael J. Powell on her first Elektra album, though label execs were initially unhappy with her choice of Powell over more established producers.

In March 1986, Baker released her second album, Rapture. While sales were initially slow following the release of the album's debut single, "Watch Your Step", Elektra released the mid-tempo ballad, "Sweet Love", which became her first pop hit, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and also reaching the UK Top 20. The album eventually launched three further hit singles, including "Caught Up in the Rapture", "No One in the World" and "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)".

Throughout 1986 and 1987, Baker promoted the album by touring, headlining her first tour, The Rapture Tour, a show from which was later released on home video as A Night of Rapture. By 1988, the album had sold over 8 million copies worldwide, 5 million of which were sold in the United States alone. The album resulted in Baker's winning two Grammy Awards at the 1987 ceremony.

In 1987, Baker collaborated with The Winans on their song, "Ain't No Need to Worry", which gave Baker a third Grammy, this time in the Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus category.

Baker's follow-up, Giving You the Best That I Got, was released in October 1988 and immediately became a success, topping the Billboard 200 and selling 5 million copies worldwide, 3 million of which sold alone in the United States. The title track reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B and adult contemporary charts, becoming her most successful charted single.[9] The follow-up, "Just Because", reached the top 20 on the pop chart while also becoming an R&B chart-topper, while a third single, "Lead Me Into Love", became a top ten R&B hit. The album resulted in three more Grammy Awards for the singer.

In 1990, Baker released Compositions, which had Baker more involved in the songwriting and production process and the first in which she began incorporating more jazz elements than in previous albums. The album launched the singles "Talk to Me", "Soul Inspiration" and "Fairy Tales", and eventually sold over a million copies.

After the end of the album's touring and promotion schedule in 1991, Baker took a break from the business to settle down with her husband at the time, later having two children with him. Meanwhile, Elektra bought the rights to, and reissued, her first album, The Songstress. It has since sold more than 300,000 copies.

After appearing on Frank Sinatra's Duets album, Baker returned to the charts with Rhythm of Love in 1994. The album featured "Body and Soul", her first top 40 pop hit since 1989. The second single, the mid-tempo "I Apologize", won Baker an eighth Grammy. The album eventually sold over two million copies: her fourth consecutive platinum-selling album. Baker undertook the Rhythm of Love World Tour from December 14, 1994 to November 14, 1995. Baker was transferred to another label within the Warner Music Group, Atlantic Records, in 1996.

Taking a hiatus after the end of the Rhythm of Love Tour to care for her two sons, Baker returned to the studio in 2000. In May 2001, she filed a lawsuit against Zomba Recording and its Dreamhire division for alleged damage to her recordings by a hired 24-track tape machine.[1][10] Due to a label restructuring, Baker was let go from Atlantic that November without releasing any material with the company.[11]

During this hiatus, Rhino Records released the compilation, The Best of Anita Baker (named Sweet Love: The Very Best of Anita Baker in the UK) in June 2002. The album eventually was certified platinum by the RIAA, denoting sales in excess of 1,000,000 units in the US. That year, Baker returned to live performing, signing with Blue Note Records in March 2004. That September, Baker released the album, My Everything. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and number-one on the R&B charts, eventually being certified gold.

In 2005, Baker released Christmas Fantasy, winning a Grammy nomination for the song, "Christmas Time Is Here". In May 2005, Baker was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.[12] Starting in 2007, Baker embarked on a two-year concert tour titled An Evening with Anita Baker. She occasionally sang the American national anthem at sports events.[13]

"I met Anita at the Grammy Awards in 2007," said Mary J. Blige. "I told [her] how much she meant to me. She said, 'I'm glad that you picked up the ball where I left off.' That meant a lot."[14]

In August 2012, Baker released her version of Tyrese's hit, "Lately". The song made headlines for Baker after the song was played every hour, on the hour, throughout the day on urban adult contemporary radio, making her the first artist to make this kind of debut. Baker had been working on the album featuring the single, "Only Forever", since 2010.[15] Though Blue Note set release dates for the album in October and December 2012, Baker decided she still needed to work on the album, causing delays. The album never materialized. In February 2013, Baker returned to the national spotlight, performing "Lately" and "Same Ole Love" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. That same month, she appeared at the Grammys where "Lately" was nominated for a Grammy Award. In January 2017, Baker confirmed she had retired.[16] She emerged from retirement in 2018.

Personal life

Baker married Walter Bridgeforth, Jr. on December 24, 1988. The couple separated in 2005 and finalized their divorce two years later.[17] They have two sons, Walter Baker Bridgeforth (born January 1993) and Edward Carlton Bridgeforth (born May 1994).[18] Baker currently lives in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.[19] Her son Walter is now attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, as a drum principal, majoring in Music Production & Engineering.

More than five years after her divorce, Baker filed for a legal name change from Bridgeforth to Baker in her private life.[20]

Baker publicly endorsed presidential candidate Andrew Yang in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.[21]

Awards and honors

In 2013, Anita Baker was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[22]

BET Awards

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually, and are broadcast live on BET.[23]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Anita Baker Lifetime Achievement Award Won

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Baker has received eight awards from 18 nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987RaptureBest R&B Vocal Performance, FemaleWon
"Sweet Love"Best Rhythm & Blues SongWon
1988"Ain't No Need to Worry" (with The Winans)Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo, Group, Choir or ChorusWon
1989 "Giving You the Best That I Got"Record of the YearNominated
Song of the YearNominated
Best R&B Vocal Performance, FemaleWon
Best Rhythm & Blues SongWon
1990Giving You the Best That I GotBest R&B Vocal Performance, FemaleWon
1991CompositionsBest R&B Vocal Performance, FemaleWon
CompositionsBest Album PackageNominated
1995"Body and Soul"Best Female R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
Rhythm of LoveBest R&B AlbumNominated
1996"When You Love Someone" (with James Ingram)Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsNominated
"I Apologize"Best Female R&B Vocal PerformanceWon
2005"You're My Everything"Best Traditional R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
My EverythingBest R&B AlbumNominated
2007"Christmas Time Is Here"Best Traditional R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
2013"Lately"Best Traditional R&B PerformanceNominated

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Baker has received four awards from nine nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987Anita BakerFavorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistNominated
RaptureFavorite Soul/R&B AlbumNominated
1988Anita BakerFavorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistWon
RaptureFavorite Soul/R&B AlbumWon
1990 Anita Baker Favorite Pop/Rock Female ArtistNominated
Favorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistWon
"Just Because"Favorite Soul/R&B SingleNominated
1995Anita BakerFavorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistWon
1996Anita BakerFavorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistNominated

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show aired in national broadcast syndication that honors the best in African American music and entertainment established in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 "Sweet Love" Best Single, Female Won
Best Music Video Nominated
RaptureAlbum of the Year, Female Nominated
1989 "Giving You the Best That I Got" Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year Won
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single, Female Won
Giving You the Best That I GotBest R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year, Female Won
1991 "Talk to Me"Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single, Female Nominated
CompositionsBest R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year, Female Nominated
1995 "Body and Soul" Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Single, Female Won
Rhythm of LoveR&B/Soul Album of the Year, Female Won
2010 Anita Baker Legend Award, Female Won

Other honors
Year Category Organization Result
1994 Hollywood Walk of Fame Star at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.
2005 International Artist of the Year Canadian Smooth Jazz Award[24] Won

Discography
Main article: Anita Baker discography

Tours

References
  1. Huey, Steve. "Anita Baker". AllMusic. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  2. Hutchings, David (November 24, 1986). "Ex-Receptionist Anita Baker's Lp Gets a Rapture-Ous Reception—at Last". People.com. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  3. Holden, Stephen (September 3, 1986). "The Pop Life – Anita Baker And Her Musical Roots". NYTimes.com. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. "Anita Baker Has No Regrets". Essence.com. December 16, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  5. "The Anita Baker Pages". Oreoluwa.com. July 1, 1991. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  6. Smith 1996, p. 19.
  7. David Nathan (1999). The Soulful Divas: Personal Portraits of Over a Dozen Divine Divas. Billboard Books. p. 348.
  8. Smith 1996, p. 20.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  10. "Anita Baker Sues Over Allegedly Ruined Tracks". Billboard. May 18, 2001. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  11. "Stewart, Baker, O'Connor Latest To Leave Atlantic". Billboard. May 18, 2001. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  12. "Anita Baker, Ron Carter, and Kevin Eubanks to Receive Honorary Doctor of Music Degrees at Berklee College of Music Commencement May 7, 2005".
  13. "National Anthem Hits a Bad Note, Twitter users blast Anita Baker's singing of the Star-Spangled Banner". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  14. "Women in music". Q. No. 262. May 2008. p. 103.
  15. "Anita Baker Hit The Studio With Snoop Dogg". Twanatells.com. July 18, 2010. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  16. "R&B Legend Anita Baker Confirms Retirement – R&B News". Singersroom.com. January 16, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  17. Mark Jordan. "Baker says she is finalizing her divorce". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  18. Steve Dougherty (October 10, 1994). "Starting to Recapture the Rapture". People.
  19. "Grosse Pointe police: Peeper at Anita Baker's window was mistaken". WDIV-TV. February 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  20. EUPublisher (December 20, 2015). "Anita Baker Files Legal Docs to Drop Ex-Husband's Name". eurweb. Lee Bailey's EurWeb. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  21. Late Night with Seth Meyers (January 29, 2020). "Amber Ruffin Sings an Anita Baker Tribute to Andrew Yang". youtube.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  22. "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends – ANITA BAKER".
  23. Payne, Chris (June 24, 2018). "Marsha Ambrosius Salutes Anita Baker, Delivers Poignant 'Caught Up In the Rapture' BET Awards Cover". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  24. Archived December 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

Sources:

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