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.
Dix-a-Billy
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right through Philly
New York's doing Dix-A-Billy
Dressed in dirty white bucks
And blue jeans, New Orleans
The kids are doing a dance they call a Dix-A-Billy
They just scatter some straw
And then they get a trombone to wail a Dix-A-Billy
See them groovin
Really movin'
Man alive-in'
Hands a'jivin Dix-A-Billy
Take a honky-tonk piano
Played in a southern manner
Make it rock with a northern beat a Dix-A-Billy
Watch them struttin' and kickin'
It beats doin' the chicken
No one leaves til the rooster crows a Dix-A-Billy
Hear that singin'
Feel that rhythm
Love that music
They're all doing Dix-A-Billy
Dix-A-Billy
Dix-A-Billy
Oh
Dix-A-Billy
Dix-A-Billy
The lyrics to LaVern Baker's song Dix-A-Billy are about a dance craze called the Dix-A-Billy that is taking over various cities in the United States. The song describes how the dance is done by kids who are dressed in "dirty white bucks and blue jeans" and takes place in various locations, from San Francisco to Chicago, and even in the streets of New York City. The song paints a vivid picture of the dance, with lyrics like "They don't need a real dance floor, they just scatter some straw, and then they get a trombone to wail a Dix-A-Billy" and "Watch them struttin' and kickin', it beats doin' the chicken". The Dix-A-Billy is described as a fun and energetic dance, with the lyrics "See them groovin', really movin', man alive-in', hands a'jivin Dix-A-Billy."
The song also describes the music associated with the Dix-A-Billy dance, which incorporates elements of both southern and northern blues music. The lyrics say "Take a honky-tonk piano, played in a southern manner, make it rock with a northern beat a Dix-A-Billy." The Dix-A-Billy dance is presented as an alternative to other popular dances at the time, such as "the chicken", with lyrics like "It beats doin' the chicken, no one leaves til the rooster crows a Dix-A-Billy". Overall, the song celebrates the fun and excitement of the Dix-A-Billy dance craze, and how it is bringing people together across different cities and music styles.
Line by Line Meaning
San Francisco To Chicago
The Dix-A-Billy dance trend has spread from San Francisco to Chicago.
Right through Philly
The Dix-A-Billy trend has also spread through Philadelphia.
New York's doing Dix-A-Billy
Even New York is participating in the Dix-A-Billy dance trend.
Dressed in dirty white bucks
The dancers are wearing dirty white bucks shoes and blue jeans.
And blue jeans, New Orleans
The dancers are also wearing blue jeans in New Orleans.
The kids are doing a dance they call a Dix-A-Billy
The younger generation has created and named the dance style Dix-A-Billy.
They don't need a real dance floor
The dancers can perform Dix-A-Billy on any surface, they don't need a proper dance floor.
They just scatter some straw
To recreate the ambiance of the South, the dancers put some straw on the floor.
And then they get a trombone to wail a Dix-A-Billy
When they've set the scene, they use a trombone to play the Dix-A-Billy music.
See them groovin
Observe them moving in a stylish and jazzy manner.
Really movin'
They're really into the rhythm of the music.
Man alive-in'
They're very much alive during the dance.
Hands a'jivin Dix-A-Billy
The hand motions during the dance are a key part of the Dix-A-Billy style.
Take a honky-tonk piano
As an instrument, the honky-tonk piano is essential to the Dix-A-Billy style.
Played in a southern manner
The way the honky-tonk piano is played adheres to Southern music traditions.
Make it rock with a northern beat a Dix-A-Billy
The piano is played using a northern beat to provide a contrast and unique sound to Dix-A-Billy.
Watch them struttin' and kickin'
The dance involves strutting and kicking, watch them in motion.
It beats doin' the chicken
The Dix-A-Billy dance style is much better than doing the chicken dance.
No one leaves til the rooster crows a Dix-A-Billy
The dancers will not stop dancing until the rooster crows, which is an early morning indicator of time in the South.
Hear that singin'
Listen to the music being sung to Dix-A-Billy.
Feel that rhythm
The rhythm of Dix-A-Billy can be felt and enjoyed.
Love that music
The Dix-A-Billy music is beloved by the dancers.
They're all doing Dix-A-Billy
Everyone who participates in the dance is doing Dix-A-Billy.
Dix-A-Billy
The name of the dance.
Dix-A-Billy
The name of the dance.
Oh
An expression of joy or delight.
Dix-A-Billy
The name of the dance.
Dix-A-Billy
The name of the dance.
Writer(s): Jack Reardon, Paul Evans, Woody Harris
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Squee_Dow
San Francisco To Chicago
Right through Philly
New York's doing Dix-A-Billy
Dressed in dirty white bucks
And blue jeans, New Orleans
The kids are doing a dance they call a Dix-A-Billy
They don't need a real dance floor
They just scatter some straw
And then they get a trombone to wail a Dix-A-Billy
See them groovin
Really movin'
Man alive-in'
Hands a'jivin Dix-A-Billy
Take a honky-tonk piano
Played in a southern manner
Make it rock with a northern beat a Dix-A-Billy
Watch them struttin' and kickin'
It beats doin' the chicken
No one leaves til the rooster crows a Dix-A-Billy
Hear that singin'
Feel that rhythm
Love that music
They're all doing Dix-A-Billy
@johnthrussell1377
Her voice is strong
@Theoppositesex
This is the best song ever.
@nmgt1048
I have this song taped off a record. had this song for many years.
@soulman4692
Awesome music...!!!
@whitefalcon64
Great King Curtis backin' a wonderful voice
@Squee_Dow
San Francisco To Chicago
Right through Philly
New York's doing Dix-A-Billy
Dressed in dirty white bucks
And blue jeans, New Orleans
The kids are doing a dance they call a Dix-A-Billy
They don't need a real dance floor
They just scatter some straw
And then they get a trombone to wail a Dix-A-Billy
See them groovin
Really movin'
Man alive-in'
Hands a'jivin Dix-A-Billy
Take a honky-tonk piano
Played in a southern manner
Make it rock with a northern beat a Dix-A-Billy
Watch them struttin' and kickin'
It beats doin' the chicken
No one leaves til the rooster crows a Dix-A-Billy
Hear that singin'
Feel that rhythm
Love that music
They're all doing Dix-A-Billy
@LilGrannyKy
Remember this from when I was a kid doing the dance the Chicken.
@alanbuxbaum3190
The B Side to "I Cried a Tear." A great twofer!
@TheZeevik
WONDERFUL SWING
@wellsy1954
Wondering what came out first - this or The Kalin Twins "When". I'm guessing LaVern.