Talk To Me
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
www.lanier2.imeem.com
Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio) is a multi-platinum selling rhythm and blues singer-songwriter and 8 time Grammy Award winner. Baker is renowned for her soaring alto vocal range.Born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Baker began singing in a Baptist church choir at the age of 12. At age 16 she was in the band Humanity when she was approached by bass player David Washington of Chapter 8 to audition. In 1975, Baker joined Chapter 8, the most popular group of Detroit at the time. They spent a couple of years playing in and around Detroit, and eventually got a record deal with Ariola. The self-titled album came out in fall 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: "Ready for Your Love" and "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl". Ariola Records suddenly ran into financial trouble and the company was bought by Arista. The executives at Arista did not care for Baker's vocals and refused to renew Chapter 8's record deal while Baker was a part of the group. After being rejected Baker went back home to Detroit and got a job as a receptionist for a local law firm.In 1981, Otis Smith, the man behind Chapter 8's contract, formed his own label Beverly Glen. Remembering Baker's vocals, he got her telephone number from a Chapter 8 member and called her in late 1982. Baker refused the job at first due to her duties as a receptionist. However, she agreed to sign with the label and try again with a music career. It would prove to be a smart move. In 1983, Baker released her debut album The Songtress. This album was a moderate success, which paved the way for a host of bigger things to come; two of the album's singles, "Angel" and "No More Tears", became smash hits on the R&B charts. By the spring of 1984, Baker had 5 chart hits and was close to a gold record. However, there was no answer when she asked Beverly Glen about a new album.Baker returned to the studio in 1990 for her third Elektra album Compositions. On it, Anita wanted to be more involved in song writing and wished to experiment with jazz. Baker wrote seven of the songs on this album, including the hits "Talk to Me", "Fairy Tales", "No One To Blame", and "Whatever It Takes(written with Gerald Levert")and "Soul Inspiration". The album was mostly cut live, meaning that the rhythm section was playing as Baker sang. On the album produced by Michael J. Powell, there were musicians like Greg Philinganes, Nathan East, Paulinho da Costa, Vernon Fails, Ricky Lawson and Stephen Ferrone. Baker's involvement in the whole recording process gave the album a personal touch and for the effort she received her 7th Grammy award. Though the three singles from Compositions all failed to reach Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart ("Talk to Me" came closest to the top 40, at #44 pop), they still became Top 20 hits on the R&B Singles Chart and were also moderate Adult Contemporary hits. Compositions peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, #3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #4 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums, and still was certified Platinum by RIAA. After almost five years of touring, performing, and recording non-stop, Anita took a break, only taking time off to record the jazz standard "Witchcraft" with Frank Sinatra for his 1993 Duets album.
Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio) is a multi-platinum selling rhythm and blues singer-songwriter and 8 time Grammy Award winner. Baker is renowned for her soaring alto vocal range.Born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Baker began singing in a Baptist church choir at the age of 12. At age 16 she was in the band Humanity when she was approached by bass player David Washington of Chapter 8 to audition. In 1975, Baker joined Chapter 8, the most popular group of Detroit at the time. They spent a couple of years playing in and around Detroit, and eventually got a record deal with Ariola. The self-titled album came out in fall 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: "Ready for Your Love" and "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl". Ariola Records suddenly ran into financial trouble and the company was bought by Arista. The executives at Arista did not care for Baker's vocals and refused to renew Chapter 8's record deal while Baker was a part of the group. After being rejected Baker went back home to Detroit and got a job as a receptionist for a local law firm.In 1981, Otis Smith, the man behind Chapter 8's contract, formed his own label Beverly Glen. Remembering Baker's vocals, he got her telephone number from a Chapter 8 member and called her in late 1982. Baker refused the job at first due to her duties as a receptionist. However, she agreed to sign with the label and try again with a music career. It would prove to be a smart move. In 1983, Baker released her debut album The Songtress. This album was a moderate success, which paved the way for a host of bigger things to come; two of the album's singles, "Angel" and "No More Tears", became smash hits on the R&B charts. By the spring of 1984, Baker had 5 chart hits and was close to a gold record. However, there was no answer when she asked Beverly Glen about a new album.Baker returned to the studio in 1990 for her third Elektra album Compositions. On it, Anita wanted to be more involved in song writing and wished to experiment with jazz. Baker wrote seven of the songs on this album, including the hits "Talk to Me", "Fairy Tales", "No One To Blame", and "Whatever It Takes(written with Gerald Levert")and "Soul Inspiration". The album was mostly cut live, meaning that the rhythm section was playing as Baker sang. On the album produced by Michael J. Powell, there were musicians like Greg Philinganes, Nathan East, Paulinho da Costa, Vernon Fails, Ricky Lawson and Stephen Ferrone. Baker's involvement in the whole recording process gave the album a personal touch and for the effort she received her 7th Grammy award. Though the three singles from Compositions all failed to reach Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart ("Talk to Me" came closest to the top 40, at #44 pop), they still became Top 20 hits on the R&B Singles Chart and were also moderate Adult Contemporary hits. Compositions peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, #3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #4 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums, and still was certified Platinum by RIAA. After almost five years of touring, performing, and recording non-stop, Anita took a break, only taking time off to record the jazz standard "Witchcraft" with Frank Sinatra for his 1993 Duets album.
Comments (0)