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.
Wheel of Fortune
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goes spinning around
Will the arrow point my way?
Will this be my day?
Oh, wheel of fortune
Please don't pass me by
Let me know the magic of
While the wheel is spining, spinning, spinning
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning
I'll be yearning, yearning
For love's precious flame
Oh, wheel of fortune
I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me
Please let it be now
While the wheel is spining, spinning, spinning
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning
I'll be yearning, yearning
For love's precious flame
Oh, wheel of fortune
I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me
Please let it be now
LaVern Baker's "Wheel of Fortune" is a song that is all about hope and aspiration. The singer of the song is asking for a chance, and she knows that the wheel of fortune can make or break her destiny. The roulette of fate is a metaphor for the opportunities and the chances that life offers, and she is waiting for the wheel to turn in her favor.
The singer is longing for love, and she is hoping that the wheel of fortune will award her the chance to find her soulmate. She admits that she is not dreaming of wealth or glory; she is only yearning for love's precious flame. The lyrics reflect the anxieties that many of us experience while waiting for something to change in our lives. However, despite the uncertainty of her fate, the singer remains positive and determined.
Ultimately, "Wheel of Fortune" is an allegory of the journey of life. We all take risks and make choices that influence our destiny. Sometimes, we get lucky, and the wheel of fortune smiles on us. Other times, we are not so fortunate, and we have to learn to pick ourselves up and try again.
Line by Line Meaning
The wheel of fortune
Life can feel like a game of chance and luck
Goes spinning around
Life is always in motion and constantly changing
Will the arrow point my way?
Will fate or destiny bring me good fortune?
Will this be my day?
Will I finally be lucky?
Oh, wheel of fortune
Oh, the unpredictability of life!
Please don't pass me by
I hope that life doesn't overlook me
Let me know the magic of a kiss and a sigh
Let me experience the wonder and enchantment of falling in love
While the wheel is spinning, spinning, spinning
While life keeps moving and changing
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
I won't focus on material wealth or status
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning
While life is turning and changing
I'll be yearning, yearning for love's precious flame
I'll be longing for the warmth and passion of a romantic connection
Oh, wheel of fortune
Oh, the unpredictability of life!
I'm hoping somehow
I'm wishing and praying
If you ever smile on me
If life ever blesses me with good fortune
Please let it be now
I hope it happens soon
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George David Weiss, Bennie Benjamin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind