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.
Precious Memories
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred secrets unfold.
As I wander on life's journey
wondering what the years may hold
As I ponder, oh sweet wonder
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred secrets will unfold.
The song Precious Memories by LaVern Baker talks about the memories that linger in a person's mind and how they can be both flooding and soothing to the soul. She sings about these memories being so precious and sacred that they unfold in the stillness of the midnight. The lyrics point to the fact that the memories we have are not something we can force, but they surface in their own time and in their own patterns.
As she wanders on life's journey and wonders what the years may hold, she relies on these precious memories. They offer her a sense of comfort and help her to ponder with sweet wonder. The song highlights that the memories we cherish are like secrets that we keep close to our heart, and they become even more precious as time goes on.
Overall, the song Precious Memories is a tribute to the power of memories and how they can shape our lives. The lyrics encourage us to hold onto our precious memories and let them guide us through life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Precious memories, how they linger
Memories that hold great value to me, they stay with me for a long time.
How they ever flood my soul
They overwhelm me with a strong, intense emotion that touches my very being.
In the stillness of the midnight
During the quiet, peaceful hours of the late night, when the world is asleep.
Precious, sacred secrets unfold.
My cherished and holy secrets reveal themselves to me.
As I wander on life's journey
As I move forward through life, experiencing different things and learning new lessons.
wondering what the years may hold
Contemplating what the future may bring, uncertain about what is to come.
As I ponder, oh sweet wonder
As I reflect deeply, experiencing a sense of awe and amazement.
Precious memories flood my soul.
My soul is inundated with unforgettable and valuable memories.
In the stillness of the midnight
During the quiet, peaceful hours of the late night, when the world is asleep.
Precious, sacred secrets will unfold.
My cherished and holy secrets will reveal themselves to me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIE NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind