Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Denise Baker is an American singer-songwriter. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker eventually released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single "Sweet Love". To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has five platinum albums and one gold album to her credit. Baker's vocal range is contralto...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionR&B Singer
Date of Birth26 January 1958
CityToledo, OH
CountryUnited States of America
I can't go anywhere until I finish this Christmas album, ... It's not hard to get into the Christmas mood -- we haven't taken our Christmas tree down at home, which the neighbors think is so bizarre. And it is. But this is a jazz Christmas album, so I don't have to be too traditional or mind too many rules. That's what's pulling me along.
My kids' eyes always light up -- 'Why are these people screaming over my mother?' ... People around Detroit have made me cry, just walking up to me in the supermarket to say, 'It's good to have you back.' It's been beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful.
It's been a whirlwind. Everybody's been so supportive, especially here in the home base -- radio, press, fans, everybody. The feedback has just been tremendous. I use this phrase over and over, but it's been like a family reunion for me.
I love radio, but it's a very limited thing today. Everything has to be edited down to 3:59, and too bad if I didn't make my statement in three minutes and 59 seconds. Everybody's song has to make its point so quickly.
Historically, in my generation, all of my heroes and heroines have had issues and problems. We all do.
If you have your own agenda and your own style and you don't easily conform to what the masses are doing, you're looked upon as being difficult. Whereas, I think of it as just being an individual.
Most artists are notoriously insecure, and I fall into that category.
I'm picking and choosing in terms of the stress factor. If it's not fun, I'm not going to do it.
I'm used to getting up at 7, getting breakfast, getting the kids off to school, and doing the mommy thing and the wife thing and the daughter thing.
I'm in love, sweet love. Feel me calling out your name, I feel no shame.
Long tresses down to the floor can be beautiful, but learn to love what you have.
As soon as you get off stage, that's the most dangerous time for a singer to kiss people because your vocal chords are receptive to any kind of germ.
When you're away for a long time, tastes change, fans move on. You hate to think about it, but it's an ugly fact of life.
I think there's no sacrifice too great for family, whether it's career, singing, whatever.