A word about Ms. Anita Baker
--Singer--
Anita began singing in a Baptist church at the 12-years old. At age 16
she was in a band called Humanity, which included fellow high school friends;
she was playing with other local bands when she was approached by David
Washington to audition. She joined his group, which was the most popular
group of Detroit at the time. They spent a few years playing in and around
Detroit, and eventually got a record deal with Ariola. The self-titled
album came out in the fall of 1979, there where 2 R&B chart singles on
it "Ready for your love" and "I just wanna be your girl". Ariola records
ran into troubles and the company was bought by Arista; when it was time
to renew the contract, the executives at Arista told Anita that she couldn't
sing and didn't renew the group's contract.
Anita went home to Detroit and worked, first as a short order cook, she waited tables at a bar, and finally she got a job with a law firm as a receptionist. Otis Smith who was the man behind Chapter 8's contract, formed his own label in 1981, called Beverly Glenn. Remembering Anita's special voice, he got her telephone number from a Chapter 8 member and called her in 1982, first Anita said no, because of the 9-5 job, a steady income, health coverage and paid vacations, but when Otis Smith raised the offer to $10,000 and her law firm approved the contract, was the answer, yes, and that was her real beginning.
Baker's activities when she's at home. But at 5 o'clock, she is ready for time with the family and family dinners.
She was born in Ohio, but raised in Detroit, Michigan.
Her earliest musical experience was singing in church, so undoubtedly
gospel music has always been important to her. At home, however, with
her grandparents (with whom she lived),- and then later with the Lewis
family (who cared for her after the death of her grandparents) the young
Anita was surrounded by a diverse range of music. That diversity influenced
and informed her unique style.
7.25.05 Republished
