Anita Baker

Anita Baker
Baker performing at the 17th Annual Salute to Freedom in November 2008.
Background information
Birth name	Anita Denise Baker
Born	(1958-01-26) January 26, 1958 (age 59) Toledo, Ohio, United States
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	R&B soul jazz smooth jazz soul quiet storm
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1979–2017
Labels	Ariola (1979) Beverly Glen Records (1982–1984) Elektra (1985–1995) Atlantic (1996–2001) Blue Note (2004–2017)
Associated acts	Chapter 8, Michael J. Powell
Website	Blue Note artist page

Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is a retired American singer-songwriter. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker eventually 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". To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has five platinum albums and one gold album to her credit. Baker's vocal range is contralto.

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. When Baker was 12, her foster parents died and her foster sister raised her afterwards. 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 the group 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." 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."