Carroll Baker (singer)
| Carroll Baker | |
|---|---|
Songwriter George Petralia, Carroll Baker and producer Don Grashey
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carroll Anne Baker |
| Born | March 4, 1949 |
| Origin | Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | singer/songwriter |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | Gaiety Columbia Records |
| Associated acts | George Petralia Don Grashey |
Carroll Anne Baker CM (born March 4, 1949) is a Canadian country music singer and songwriter. She released many chart-topping single country hits in the 1970s.
Baker was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. The nearby fishing village of Port Medway, Nova Scotia displays a sign near the village entry claiming the community to be "The Home of Carroll Baker." She left Port Medway and moved to Toronto with her family when she was 16.
Songwriter George Petralia heard Baker sing and introduced her to producer Don Grashey. Her first single in 1970, 'Mem-ries of Home,' was written by Petralia and released on Grashey's Gaiety label. It was a minor hit, staying on the charts for 26 weeks. Based on the success of this first recording, Grashey contacted several record companies regarding a recording contract for her and finally made a deal with Columbia Records.
She recorded two albums for Columbia with limited commercial success. Eventually she went back to Gaiety Records. She then was signed to RCA Records where she had several Gold and Platinum records. From RCA, she joined Tembo records where she was again awarded platinum record status for her record sales.
In 1973 Baker became pregnant and announced her intention to withdraw from music business. Grashey convinced her to continue, and the pair traveled to Nashville to record four songs. Her first top ten record came from that session, "Ten Little Fingers", a song about a little girl, written by Don Grashey; this song remains one of her most popular songs to this day. She also had a hit with a bluegrass remake of "It's My Party".
All told, between 1970 and 1982 Baker released 31 consecutive charting singles. Twelve of these reached the top of the charts.
Baker had her own series on CBC television in the summer of 1983 and frequently appeared on Tommy Hunter's show. In 1986 her album Hymns of Gold was certified platinum.
Baker performed at the Quyon Country JanFest in 2005 playing many of her most popular songs, including one French song.
Baker received the Juno Award for Country Female Vocalist of the Year five times, including awards in 1977, 1978 and 1979. In 1976 she won a Big Country Award for best album of the year, and in 1978 and 1977 she was named top female country singer at the same awards.
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