born 20 December 20, 1957, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Soul singer

Anita Baker was being hailed as the voice of the 90s after

working her way up the ladder during the late 70s and early 80s.

The granddaughter of a minister, she had a religious upbringing

which included church music and gospel singing. After vocal

duties 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 disagreements with Beverly Glen she chose to

sign 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. Rapture, a wonderfully mature and

emotional album, saw Baker hailed as 'a female Luther

Vandross' and she began to win R&B awards with 'Sweet

Love', 'Caught Up In The Rapture' and 'Giving You The Best

That I Got'. In 1987 she appeared on the Winans' 'Ain't No

Need To Worry' and in 1990 duetted with former Shalamar

singer Howard Hewlett.