Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is occasionally referred to as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to Eugene Williams; in the late 1940s she was identified in RCA Victor record company files as "D. L. McMurley." She was the niece of blues singer Merline Johnson and was also related to Memphis Minnie.
She began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949. She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, and then became LaVern Baker when singing with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
In 1953 she signed for Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" reaching #4 on the R&B chart and #14 on the national US pop charts. Georgia Gibbs' note-for-note cover of Baker's "Tweedle Dee" reached #1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
Baker had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group The Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" (#3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (#2 R&B), and "Still" (#4 R&B). At the end of 1956 she had another smash hit with "Jim Dandy" (#1 R&B, #17 pop). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Further hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (#7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (#2 R&B, #6 pop in 1959), "I Waited Too Long" (#5 R&B, #3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (#17 R&B, written by Leiber and Stoller), and "See See Rider" (#9 R&B in 1963).
In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded a Bessie Smith tribute album, before leaving Atlantic and joining Brunswick Records, where she recorded the album "Let Me Belong to You".
In 1966, Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song, "Think Twice", featured raunchy lyrics that were not considered appropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the X-rated version with the raunchy lyrics.
In the late 1960s, Baker became seriously ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers. While recovering at the US Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, her husband, Slappy White filed for a divorce. A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at the Marine Corps Staff NCO club there, and she remained there for 22 years.
In 1988 she returned to perform at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She then worked on the soundtracks to films such as Shag, (1989), Dick Tracy, (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), which were all issued on CD.
In 1990, she made her Broadway debut replacing Ruth Brown as star of the hit musical Black and Blue. In 1991, Rhino Records released a new album Live in Hollywood recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill, as well as a compilation of her greatest Atlantic hits entitled Soul on Fire. In 1992, she recorded a well-received studio album, Woke Up This Morning, for DRG Records. She continued performing after having both legs amputated from diabetes complications in 1994 and made her last recording, "Jump Into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.
She received the 1990 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Baker became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987. Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
LaVern Baker died from cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. Originally buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, her grave received a headstone on May 4, 2008, after a fundraiser was held by local historians.
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LaVern Baker Lyrics
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Don't let the moon break your heart
Love blooms at night
In the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh, keep your heart for me
For someday I'll return
And you know you're the only one I'll ever love
Too many nights, too many stars
Too many moons to change your mind
If I'm gone too long don't forget where you belong
When the stars come out remember you are mine
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't let the moon break your heart
Love blooms at night
In the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh, keep your heart for me
For someday I'll return
And you know you're the only one I'll ever love
Too many miles, too many days
Too many nights to be alone
Ah please keep your heart while we are apart
Don't you linger in the moonlight when I'm gone
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't let the moon break your heart
Love blooms at night
In the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh, keep your heart for me
For someday I'll return
And you know you're the only one I'll ever love
You're the only one I'll ever love
LaVern Baker’s “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” is a love song that speaks about the importance of patience and loyalty in a relationship. The singer warns her lover not to let the stars and the moon deceive him and break his heart. Though love may seem to bloom at night, it dies in the daylight, indicating that lust may overwhelm people in the moment, but a true connection between two people can only be found through patience and loyalty. The singer reminds her lover that he is the only one she will ever love, and though she may be gone for some time, he is to remember where he belongs and to keep his heart for her.
The song paints a vivid picture of love that is both patient and strong. The lyrics speak to the romantic nature of the human experience in a way that is both relatable and emotional. The warnings about the stars and moon allude to the fleeting nature of human desire and suggest that true love takes time, effort, and devotion to maintain. The song is an anthem to those who seek love that is both enduring and true.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't get carried away by the allure of stardom or the glamour of the world.
Don't let the moon break your heart
Don't allow the moon, or any other external factor, make you sad and melancholic.
Love blooms at night
Love is more romantic and endearing during the night time.
In the daylight it dies
Love fades and loses its charm during the day.
Oh, keep your heart for me
Please stay committed and devoted to our love.
For someday I'll return
I promise to come back to you one day.
And you know you're the only one I'll ever love
You're the only one I truly love and nobody else can replace you.
Too many nights, too many stars
There have been too many nights and stars that have passed by without you by my side.
Too many moons to change your mind
There have been too many opportunities for you to change your mind about our love.
If I'm gone too long don't forget where you belong
If I'm away for a long time, remember that you belong with me and nobody else.
When the stars come out remember you are mine
When you see the stars shining brightly, remember that I'm yours and you're mine.
Too many miles, too many days
We've been separated by too many miles and days.
Too many nights to be alone
It's too difficult to spend so many lonely nights without you beside me.
Ah please keep your heart while we are apart
Please don't fall out of love with me while we're separated.
Don't you linger in the moonlight when I'm gone
Don't spend your time pining for me in the moonlight when I'm not there.
You're the only one I'll ever love
You're my one true love and nobody else can ever take your place in my heart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SLIM WILLET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind