Anita Baker

Born January 26th 1958, in Toledo, Ohio, USA.
Baker defined "quiet storm" R&B in the 80s and 90s with her brand of music, influenced by jazz, gospel and traditional pop. She has won seven Grammy awards and has sold more than 13 million records. Her top hits include "Sweet Love," "Giving You The Best That I Got," "Good Love," "Body and Soul," and "Caught Up In The Rapture."
The grand-daughter of a minister, she had a religious upbringing which included church music and gospel singing.
After vocal chores with local bands she joined the semi-professional Chapter 8 in 1979 and was the vocalist on their minor US chart hit, 'I Just Wanna Be Your Girl', the following year.

Several years later she left the band and was working in an office when she persuaded the Beverly Glen label to record and release her debut album in 1983. 'The Songstress' brought her to wider notice and after differences of opinion with Beverly Glen she signed with Elektra Records. Her second album was partly funded by Baker herself, who also acted as executive producer, with former Chapter 8 colleague Michael Powell assisting with writing and production. The "Rapture" album sold six million copies in the U.S. and abroad and won her a Grammy. In 1988, she took the R&B and Adult Contemporary genres by storm once again with her album "Giving You The Best That I Got." That album went double platinum in fewer than eight weeks, selling more than two million copies within two months of its release and earning her more Grammy awards.

Her fourth album 'Compositions' was self-composed bar two tracks and featured former Wonderlove musician Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, ex-Average White Band Steve Ferrone on drums, along with top Los Angeles session drummer Ricky Lawson, and Nathan East on bass. The album was recorded live in the studio with few overdubs.
The birth of her first child delayed the release of her fourth Elektra album (and her last album to date), 'Rhythm Of Love'.
Baker then moved to Atlantic Records, however, her next album hit a setback and she ended up filing a suit in the US District Court in Detroit against Zomba Recording Corp. and its Dreamhire division, whom she alleged supplied her with a 24-track tape recording machine that supposedly left popping noises all over tracks she'd been putting down.
Despite all attempts to save the music she had to start the project again!

The return of Anita Baker ??
Anita recently performed at the Westbury Music Fair New York in December 2002 in what is seen as her comeback tour. According to CBS News, Anita has decided to get back into the recording studio and is looking for a new label. Recording of the new cd is in progress and hopefully it will come out soon.

August 2004
After 10 years, the much awaited CD from Anita Baker is out on sept 7th. Titled 'My Everything' it will be released on the Blue Notes Label. More details here

Albums

The Songstress (1983)
Rapture (1986)
Giving you the best (1988)
Compositions (1992)
Rhythm Of Love (1994)
My Everything (2004)

Tracks currently playing/played on the station

No One In The World (Rapture)
Sweet Love [Live] (Rapture)
Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year) (Rapture)
Just Because (Giving You The Best That I Got)
You Belong To Me (Giving You The Best That I Got)
Fairy Tales (Compositions)
Plenty Of Room (Rhythm of Love)
Mad About You [The Final Frontier] (Mad About You TV Soundtrack)

soul2soul favourites/recommended

No More Tears (The Songstress)
Sometimes (The Songstress)
Caught Up In The Rapture (Rapture)
You Bring Me Joy (Rapture)
Same Ole Love [365 Days A Year] (Rapture)
No One In The World (Rapture)
Giving You The Best That I Got (Giving You The Best That I Got)
Just Because (Giving You The Best That I Got)
Lead Me Into Love (Giving You The Best That I Got)
You Belong To Me (Giving You The Best That I Got)
Fairy Tales (Compositions)
Talk To Me (Compositions)
I Apologize (Rhythm of Love)
It's Been You (Rhythm of Love)
Plenty Of Room (Rhythm of Love)
Mad About You [The Final Frontier] (Mad About You TV Soundtrack)

Anita Baker Album info
More info on Anita Baker
Anita Baker's Official Site