The record included the hit singles “No More Tears ” and “Angels. The Songstress was released in 1983, sold more than 300,000 copies, and was on Billboard ’s black music charts for more than a year. After Smith promised her an apartment and a salary matching what Baker was earing at Quin and Budajh, she agreed to move to Los Angeles and record a solo album for Beverly Glen.

Enticed Back to Music After Stint at Law Firmīaker had not performed in a year and a half when she received an offer from Otis Smith, a former Ariola executive who had formed Beverly Glen Records. Record company -Elektra Records, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10019. Selected awards: Grammy Awards for best female vocalist, rhythm and blues, for Rapture, and song of the year, rhythm and blues, for “Sweet Love, ” and American Music Awards for favorite female vocalist, soul/rhythm and blues, and favorite album, soul/rhythm and blues, all 1987 Grammy Awards for best rhythm and blues song and best female vocal, rhythm and blues, 1989, for “Giving You the Best That I Got ” Grammy Award for best female vocalist, rhythm and blues, for Compositions, and American Music Award for favorite female vocalist, soul/rhythm and blues, both 1990.Īddresses: Home -Grosse Pointe, MI. 1980 released first solo album, The Songstress, Beverly Glen Records, 1983 signed with Elektra Records, served as executive producer for first Elektra release, Rapture, 1986 toured with Luther Vandross, 1988 performed at inauguration of president George Bush, 1989, and at Montreaux Jazz Festival. 1976 with group Chapter 8, toured and recorded for Ariola Records, late 1970s waited tables and worked as a receptionist for Detroit law firm Quin and Budajh, c. Performed with various bands in Detroit nightclubs, c. Education: Attended community college in Detroit. (a marketing specialist), 1988 children: Walter Baker Bridgforth. Raised in Detroit, MI, by an aunt, Lois Landry (owner of a beauty salon), and uncle, Walter Landry (an auto worker) married Walter Bridgforth, Jr. For the Record …īorn January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH. Waiting tables in a bar for a short time, she soon found a job as a receptionist at a Detroit law firm, Quin and Budajh. She decided to take her family ’s advice and gave up singing altogether in favor of traditional employment. Baker later concluded that this assessment was most likely Ariola ’s attempt to mask its imminent demise hindsight aside, she was devastated by the company ’s judgment. At the time, Ariola executives said they were dropping Chapter 8 because Baker ’s singing was substandard. Although the album yielded one hit, “I Just Want to Be Your Girl, ” in 1980 Ariola chose not to renew the band ’s contract. Baker agreed and spent the next several years touring with Chapter 8 and recording for Ariola Records. At the Cabaret Lounge, on the city ’s east side, David Washington, bassist for Detroit funk group Chapter 8, heard Baker and asked her to join the group.

Baker enrolled briefly in community college, then quit to begin singing with bands in Detroit nightclubs. They encouraged her to attend community college and get a nine-to-five job when she graduated from high school in 1976. Baker dedicated her landmark recording, 1986 ’s Rapture, to Landry.Īlthough Landry gave consistent emotional support to Baker, she and other family members worried about the practicality of Baker ’s quest to become a singer. While these women continue to inspire Baker, she identifies her aunt, Lois Landry, a beauty salon owner with whom Baker lived from infancy to adulthood, as the individual whose love and encouragement most allowed her to develop her talent.

As a child she idolized gospel great Mahalia Jackson and as a teenager became enamored of the sounds of jazz singers Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. ” Baker grew up in inner-city Detroit, where she became aware of her vocal powers while singing in small church choirs.

Known for her three-octave vocal range and exceptional evocative power in the recording studio and onstage, Baker described her voice in Ebony as “a tool that was given to me that would allow me to take care of myself and to rise above my beginnings. ” This determination has not only allowed Baker to weather early struggles with recording industry exploitation and later media battles, it has also made her an accomplished artist of enormous popularity, with almost complete control over her creative projects. Let ’s not put it in the hands of someone who doesn ’t know me. “I say if it ’s going to be done, let ’s do it. “Fear doesn ’t overcome me, ” singer Anita Baker told Ms. Enticed Back to Music After Stint at Law Firm

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