Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio) is a soul and adult co… Read Full Bio ↴Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio) is a soul and adult contemporary Rhythm and blues singer.
With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of the most popular romantic singers of her time.
Baker was born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH, and raised in nearby Detroit, where she grew up listening to female jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 12, she began singing a gospel choir, and by age 16 she was performing with several local bands. In 1975, she successfully auditioned for Chapter 8, one of Detroit's most popular acts at the time; the group eventually signed with Ariola and released an album in 1979, but were immediately dropped when the label was acquired by Arista (which didn't care for Baker's vocals). Chastened, Baker worked low-paying jobs in Detroit and eventually found steady work as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1982, Otis Smith -- an executive who'd worked with Chapter 8 -- contacted Baker about recording for his new label Beverly Glen. Happy with her employment benefits and skittish over the experience with Arista, Baker was reluctant at first, but eventually flew out to the West Coast to record her debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Though it didn't gain quite enough exposure to become a hit, it did help Baker build a strong fan base through word-of-mouth and she was signed by Elektra in 1985.
Working with producer Michael J. Powell (an old Chapter 8 cohort), Baker released her major-label debut Rapture in 1986. It was a platinum, Grammy winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love." Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track "Ain't No Need to Worry" won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, Giving You the Best That I Got, appeared in 1988, spawning more staples in the title track and "Just Because." "Giving You the Best That I Got" also won Baker two more Grammys, for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title Compositions, which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker's previous work (not to mention all live instruments).
Following Compositions, Baker took a break from recording and touring; after having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft Rhythm of Love, which was released in 1994. In the years that followed, Baker was mostly silent, despite her fans' clamoring for a jazz album; instead, she raised her family and became embroiled in contract disputes with Elektra, which eventually led her to move to Atlantic. She began working on a new album in 2000, but had to start over from scratch due to defective recording equipment that made the original tracks unsalvageable. In 2004 it was announced that she had signed with Blue Note and still working on her new album. In the meantime, the Atlantic imprint Rhino released Night of Rapture: Live, a 1987 concert originally available on video. Baker finally returned to the studio in 2003 and issued My Everything, her first album in 10 years. Two years later she released her first holiday album, Christmas Fantasy.
With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of the most popular romantic singers of her time.
Baker was born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH, and raised in nearby Detroit, where she grew up listening to female jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 12, she began singing a gospel choir, and by age 16 she was performing with several local bands. In 1975, she successfully auditioned for Chapter 8, one of Detroit's most popular acts at the time; the group eventually signed with Ariola and released an album in 1979, but were immediately dropped when the label was acquired by Arista (which didn't care for Baker's vocals). Chastened, Baker worked low-paying jobs in Detroit and eventually found steady work as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1982, Otis Smith -- an executive who'd worked with Chapter 8 -- contacted Baker about recording for his new label Beverly Glen. Happy with her employment benefits and skittish over the experience with Arista, Baker was reluctant at first, but eventually flew out to the West Coast to record her debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Though it didn't gain quite enough exposure to become a hit, it did help Baker build a strong fan base through word-of-mouth and she was signed by Elektra in 1985.
Working with producer Michael J. Powell (an old Chapter 8 cohort), Baker released her major-label debut Rapture in 1986. It was a platinum, Grammy winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love." Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track "Ain't No Need to Worry" won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, Giving You the Best That I Got, appeared in 1988, spawning more staples in the title track and "Just Because." "Giving You the Best That I Got" also won Baker two more Grammys, for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title Compositions, which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker's previous work (not to mention all live instruments).
Following Compositions, Baker took a break from recording and touring; after having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft Rhythm of Love, which was released in 1994. In the years that followed, Baker was mostly silent, despite her fans' clamoring for a jazz album; instead, she raised her family and became embroiled in contract disputes with Elektra, which eventually led her to move to Atlantic. She began working on a new album in 2000, but had to start over from scratch due to defective recording equipment that made the original tracks unsalvageable. In 2004 it was announced that she had signed with Blue Note and still working on her new album. In the meantime, the Atlantic imprint Rhino released Night of Rapture: Live, a 1987 concert originally available on video. Baker finally returned to the studio in 2003 and issued My Everything, her first album in 10 years. Two years later she released her first holiday album, Christmas Fantasy.
Family of Men
Anita Baker Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Anita Baker:
01) Talk To Me Oh -oh - Yes sir Baby, baby, baby, baby You stand all…
Ain't No Need To Worry Ain't no need to worrying What the night is gonna bring Beca…
Angel Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh,…
Baby This heart of mine seldom lies you see It's often said…
Been So Long I won't be neglected I won't be denied The pleasure of your…
Body & Soul Hm What have you done to me I can't eat, I cannot…
Caught Up In The Rapture When we met, I always knew I would feel the magic…
Christmas Fantasy Santa, make him love me Santa, just help me Tell me I'll…
Christmas Time Is Here Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all Th…
Do You Believe Me When I say to you that my love is true Do…
Fairy Tales I can remember stories, those things my mother said She told…
Feel the Need [Chorus:] You've got to feel the need in me [Repeat x 4] Al…
Frosty's Rag (Frosty the Snowman) Frosty the Snowman He's a jolly happy soul Got a corncob pip…
Givin' You The Best That I Got Ain't there something I can give you In exchange for everyth…
Giving You the Best That I've Got Ain't there something I can give you In exchange for everyt…
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember…
Good Enough Now you can count on me for anything you choose Say…
Good Love On many days it goes unspoken But this desire never seems…
How Could You It's right, it's real, baby, it's true Yeah the sun and…
How Does It Changed all my plans, look what you've done My house is…
How Does It Feel Changed all my plans, look what you've done My house is…
I apologise Operator get my baby on the line cause just the other nigh…
I Apologize Operator, get my baby on the line Just the other night We…
I Can't Sleep When I'm all alone and I hear your voice No other…
I Just Want to Be Your Girl If I find a way to love you Can I contemplate Can…
I'll Be Home For Christmas I'll be home for Christmas. You can count on me. Please ha…
In My Heart Oh no baby here I go Fallin' in on the deep…
It's Been You I had a dream A love dream so tender, You were with…
Just Because When I think about how much I'm loving you No limitations,…
Lately I can′t imagine life Without you, baby, by my side This is…
Lead Me into Love We may never understand If love just happens or it's planned…
Like You Used To Do I can smell the scent of fresh cut grass You know…
Lonely You don't know what I been through Its been rough I'm…
Love You To The Letter Life is always changing Constant rearranging But nothing cha…
Mad About You A stone's throw from Jerusalem I walked a lonely mile in…
Men In My Life I'm such a lucky woman Folks don't understand How I handle s…
Moondance Well, it's a marvelous night for a Moondance With the stars…
Moonlight Sleigh Ride Moonlight sleighride Starts tonight Moonlight sleighride Sta…
More Than You Know Where did you go I've been looking for you Where did you…
My Favorite Things Raindrops on roses and Whiskers on kittens Bright copper ket…
My Favourate Things Raindrops on roses and Whiskers on kittens Bright copper k…
My Funny Valentine My funny valentine. Sweet comic valentine, You make me smile…
Mystery Turning back the hands of time Holding on to misty memories …
No More Tears We used to laugh Now I all I do is cry You…
No Need to Worry Ain't no need in worrying what the night is gonna bring, i…
No One in the World I look back on all those good times We once shared,…
No One To Blame Yes, I've been around and I watch you, baby I know…
Only For A While For a little while we know what heartache is And we…
Perfect Love Affair Uhhh uhhh There's a picture in my memory Of the days when…
Plenty Of Room I thought I told you everthing you needed You needed to…
Priceless When you ask me how I feel about you I try…
Rapture When we met, I always knew I would feel the magic…
Rhythm of Love [Dialogue:] You know, this old world just, Keeps on spinning…
Rules Love was meant to be loving So many times we don't…
Same Ole Love Flashbacks of the times we've had Some made us laugh and…
Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year) Flashbacks of the times we’ve had Some made us laugh some…
Serious Oh the last time I saw you You looked so good…
SOMETIMES Everybody wants to be a winner And take their place at…
Sometimes I Wonder Why Sometimes I wonder why I go on loving you this way When…
Soul Inspiration If I lost you now It would take my heart from…
SQUEEZE ME [Chorus:] Come on and squeeze me Baby won't you tease me Com…
Sweet Love With all my heart, I love you, baby Stay with me…
Talk to Me Oh -oh - Yes sir Baby, baby, baby, baby You stand all…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
The Final Frontier Tell me why I love you like I do, Tell me…
The Look Of Love The look of love Is in your eyes A look your smile…
Watch Your Step I know the kind of pain you offer Baby, I've felt…
Whatever It Takes I've always told you I'd give anything My baby, you've been …
When You Love Some One Were we ever, did we use it up too fast Our…
When you love somebody Were we ever, did we use it up too fast Our…
Will You Be Mine Something has come over me A feeling I can't explain The lov…
Wrong Man I feel you moving, slipping away I try to call, but…
You Belong To Me You don't have to prove to me you're beautiful To strangers,…
You Bring Me Joy You bring me joy When I'm down Oh, so much joy When I…
You' re my everything Oh baby I've got the sun in the morning I've…
You're My Everything Oh baby I've got the sun in the morning I've…
You're the Best Thing Yet Chorus: You're the best thing yet, to ever come into…
youre my everything Oh baby I've got the sun in the morning I've…
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Lovejazz01
I listen to this song all year round, one of my favorites from my favorites singer of all time! We all should listen to these words and heed! Spread love for all mankind! 🙏🏾❤️ Thank you Anita! ❤️❤️
Ernest Ngwetjane
I loved Anita Baker since I was about 13 years old, & I still listen to her music, this woman ROCKS!!!
Melody Wager
I love this Christmas song
Michael Stratton
She's an amazing little gift from God, thank you God,
Lenise Stephens
Listening in 2019. Thank you Anita, I gotcha and I won't drop you!
Lovejazz01
Lenise Stephens me neither! Love Anita for life!! ❤️💐
Shontia Sturrup
I love her and her songs 🥰🥰
M Shabangu
What a song.. I sense Barry J. Eastmond in the background... What a wonderful song. Lord please bring back this music.
Calvin luck
the soulful songstress in her glory
Dwayne Sealy
Loved this lady's voice since I was about 7 years old when our local TV station would play Sweet Love and You Bring Me Joy as fillers. Have every one of her albums produced.