Anita Baker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anita Baker
Baker in 1998
Background information
Birth name	Anita Denise Baker
Born	(1958-01-26) January 26, 1958 (age 67) Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Soul jazz quiet storm smooth jazz soul R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Ariola Beverly Glen Elektra Atlantic Blue Note

Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American jazz and soul singer. She is famous for her soulful songs, especially from the 1980s. This was a time when "quiet storm" music was very popular.

Anita Baker started her music journey in the late 1970s with a funk band called Chapter 8. Her first solo album, The Songstress, came out in 1983. In 1986, she became very famous with her second album, Rapture. This album sold millions of copies and included the hit song "Sweet Love".

As of 2017, Anita Baker has won eight Grammy Awards. She also has four albums that sold over a million copies (Platinum albums). Plus, she has two albums that sold over 500,000 copies (Gold albums). Anita Baker has a deep, wide-ranging singing voice.

Anita Baker's Life and Music

Early Life and First Steps in Music (1958–1982)

Anita Baker was born in Toledo, Ohio, on January 26, 1958. When she was two years old, her mother left her. Anita was then raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan. Her foster parents passed away when she was 12. After that, her foster sister took care of her.

By age 16, Anita began singing R&B music in Detroit nightclubs. A bandleader named David Washington heard her perform. He invited her to try out for his funk band, Chapter 8.

Anita joined Chapter 8 in 1975. The band toured and signed a deal with Ariola Records in 1979. Their first album, Chapter 8, came out that same year. It featured songs like "Ready for Your Love". This song was a duet with Anita and her bandmate Gerald Lyles.

Later, Ariola Records was bought by another company. Chapter 8 was then dropped from the label. They thought Anita, as the lead singer, did not have "star potential." Anita went back to Detroit and worked as a waitress. But in 1982, a former Ariola associate convinced her to start a solo career.

Rising to Fame: The Songstress and Rapture (1983–1988)

Anita Baker released her first solo album, The Songstress, in May 1983. This album had four singles, including "Angel." "Angel" became a top ten hit on the R&B charts in 1983. Another song, "You're the Best Thing Yet," also did well.

Even with this success, Anita said she didn't get paid for her work. Her record label also delayed her next album. In 1984, Anita wanted to leave the label. But the label sued her in 1985. After a court case, Anita won. She was allowed to record for other labels. In 1985, she signed with Elektra Records. This new contract let her have creative control over her music.

In March 1986, Anita released her second album, Rapture. At first, sales were slow. But then Elektra released the song "Sweet Love." This song became a huge pop hit, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also made it into the Top 20 in the UK.

Rapture had three more hit singles: "Caught Up in the Rapture", "No One in the World", and "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)". Anita toured in 1986 and 1987 to promote the album. By 1988, Rapture had sold over 8 million copies worldwide. This album helped Anita win two Grammy Awards in 1987.

In 1987, Anita sang with The Winans on their song "Ain't No Need to Worry." This song earned Anita her third Grammy Award.

Anita's next album, Giving You the Best That I Got, came out in October 1988. It was an instant success. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold 5 million copies worldwide. The main song, "Giving You the Best That I Got," became her highest-charting single. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. This album also brought Anita three more Grammy Awards.

New Music and Family Life (1990–2002)

In 1990, Anita released Compositions. She was more involved in writing and producing this album. It also featured more jazz music. The album included songs like "Talk to Me" and "Soul Inspiration". It sold over a million copies.

After touring for Compositions in 1991, Anita took a break. She wanted to spend time with her husband and raise her two children. During this time, Elektra Records reissued her first album, The Songstress.

Anita returned to music in 1994 with her album Rhythm of Love. This album featured "Body and Soul," which was a top 40 pop hit. The song "I Apologize" won Anita her eighth Grammy Award. Rhythm of Love sold over two million copies. This was her fourth album in a row to sell over a million copies. Anita toured for this album from late 1994 to late 1995.

After her tour, Anita took another break to focus on her sons. She returned to the studio in 2000. In 2001, she had a disagreement with a record company. She was later released from her contract. In June 2002, a collection of her best songs was released. It was called The Best of Anita Baker. This album also sold over a million copies in the US.

New Albums and Tours (2004–Present)

In 2004, Anita Baker started performing live again. She signed with Blue Note Records. In September 2004, she released My Everything. This album reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. It was also number one on the R&B charts. It later sold over 500,000 copies.

In 2005, Anita released Christmas Fantasy. She received a Grammy nomination for the song "Christmas Time Is Here." In May 2005, she received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music. From 2007, Anita went on a two-year concert tour. She also sometimes sang the American national anthem at sports events.

Anita had been working on a new album since 2010. In August 2012, she released her version of the song "Lately." This song was played every hour on the radio, which was a big deal. However, the new album was delayed and never released.

In February 2013, Anita performed "Lately" and "Same Ole Love" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. "Lately" was nominated for a Grammy Award that same month. In January 2017, Anita said she was retiring. But she returned to performing in 2018.

In March 2021, Anita had a disagreement with Elektra Records. She wanted the rights to her original song recordings back. She asked fans not to buy or stream her music until she got her rights. In September 2021, she announced that the issue was solved. She now owns her master recordings.

Anita Baker sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a football game in Philadelphia in 2023. This was before the NFC Championship Game. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine listed Anita Baker as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. She was ranked at number 92.

Personal Life

Anita Baker married Walter Bridgforth Jr. on December 24, 1988. They had two sons, Walter Baker Bridgforth (born in 1993) and Edward Carlton Bridgforth (born in 1994). The couple separated in 2005 and later divorced in 2007. Anita Baker now lives in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.

After her divorce, Anita changed her last name back to Baker. She also supported presidential candidate Andrew Yang in 2020.

Music Albums

• The Songstress (1983)
• Rapture (1986)
• Giving You the Best That I Got (1988)
• Compositions (1990)
• Rhythm of Love (1994)
• My Everything (2004)
• Christmas Fantasy (2005)

Concert Tours

• The Rapture Tour (1986–1987)
• The Heat: Luther & Anita Live! (with Luther Vandross) (1988)
• Anita Baker in Concert (1989)
• Compositions World Tour (1990)
• Rhythm of Love World Tour (1994–1995)
• Anita Live! (2002–2004)
• An Evening with Anita Baker (2007–2009)
• Anita Baker: Farewell Concert Series (2018–2019)
• The Songstress Tour (2023)

Awards and Honors

In 2013, Anita Baker was added to the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

BET Awards

The BET Awards celebrate African Americans in entertainment. They are given out every year by the Black Entertainment Television network.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are given out every year for achievements in music. Anita Baker has won eight Grammy Awards from 18 nominations.

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards are annual awards created by Dick Clark. Anita Baker has won four awards from nine nominations.

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards honor the best in African American music and entertainment.

Other Honors

See also

In Spanish: Anita Baker para niños