Anita Baker Biography, Photos and Posters

Anita Baker

Biography

Born: January 26, 1958,
City and Country of Origin: Toledo, Ohio
Music Background: started singing in a Baptist church choir at 12;
Awards: 1995 Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, I Apologize; 1990 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, Compositions; 1989 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, Giving You The Best That I Got; 1988 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, Giving You The Best That I Got; Best Rhythm & Blues Song, "Giving You The Best That I Got;" 1987 Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus, "Ain't No Need To Worry;" 1986 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, Rapture; Best Rhythm & Blues Song, "Sweet Love"
Top Recordings: "Been So Long," "Watch Your Step," "Sweet Love," "Ain't No Need To Worry" "Giving You The Best That I Got,"
Anita Baker Biography: Anita Baker began her music career in Detroit, Michigan where she was raised. At 16 she joined a band, composed of her fellow high school students, by the name of Humanity. She auditioned and was accepted into Chapter 8 the most popular Detroit band at that time. After signing a recording contract with Ariola Records the group released their first self titled album which produced 2 hit singles "Ready for your love" and "I just wanna be your girl." When the label ran into trouble they were taken over by Arista who, based on the feeling that Anita could not sing, decided not to renew their contract with Chapter 8. Anita returned home to Detroit working as a receptionist in a law office.

When Chapter 8 band member Otis Smith formed his own label Beverly Glen he called Anita and coaxed her to to restart her singing career. She finally signed and released her first album The Songstress. The album was a minor success. In 1984 Anita had 4 chart hits. In 1985 she signed on with Elektra Records, a division of Warner Music Group releasing her second album in 1986 Rapture. The album was responsible for making Anita into an international music success. She penned 2 of the songs "Been So Long" and "Watch Your Step" while contributing to another "Sweet Love" which would become her signature song.

She collaborated with the Winans on "Ain't No Need To Worry" which garnered a Grammy. Her next album "Giving You The Best That I Got" became a huge commercial success selling more than 4.5 million copies worldwide. For her next album, Compositions, in 1990 Anita wrote several of the songs experimenting with jazz. The album was mostly cut live and not in the studio and included singles "Talk to Me," "Fairy Tales," "No One To Blame," and "Whatever It Takes." Although the album failed to make the Billboard top 40 it fared much better on the R&B/Hip-Hop Billboard charts rising to number 3 and number 4 among the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums. Her fifth album Rhythm Of Love was released in September of 1994 and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It went double platinum and earned her another Grammy for the single "I Apologize."

After this Anita began devoting more time to her family. She did contribute to the soundtrack of the Billy Crystal film Forget Paris teaming with James Ingram on "When You Love Someone." She lost her birth mother in 1996 and her father in 1998. After she won a lawsuit against Elektra Records she signed with Atlantic Records, but parted ways with them in 2001 and Rhino Records released her compilation "The Best Of Anita Baker" in June 18, 2002. She then signed on with Blue Note Records in 2004. Her long awaited new album My Everything was released in September for which she wrote or cowrote 9 of the 10 selections. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2005 she released her first Christmas album Christmas Fantasy.

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