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 need my career. That's what validates me.
I don't even have voice mail, and people get all out of shape about that. But, you know what, I don't want to transcribe your message; I want to talk to you. And that kind of freaks people out a bit. They go, 'Oh, who has time to talk?' and I'm like, 'Well, I'm gonna make time.
Chris Brown is brilliant. That cat is crazy brilliant, and I wish him the best.
I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn't have a vocalist. I didn't get paid. I needed to sing.
I have as many pictures of my vocal cords as I do of my children. I have a great ear, nose and throat doctor, and we look at them - if there's some redness, maybe I'll take a little time off.
I'd love to be the political voice of my generation, but that's not my gift.
I would make far more money if every song were my own, but I don't write to fill up the album with my songs.
My father worked on assembly lines in Detroit while I was growing up. Every day, I watched him do what he needed to do to support the family. But he told me, 'Life is short. Do what you want to do.'
Time has nothing to do with the gifts that the gods give you; it's what you do.
Typically, the theme of my albums, if there is a theme, is, 'How does it feel?' And that always leads to love songs. It just does.
It's impossible to write and produce a record when your parents are dying. I really tried, I really, really tried, but it just wouldn't come.
I would say that my peak was making my first million at the ripe age of 29, after the first album.
I don't let people use me. That's why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum.
I say if it's going to be done, let's do it. Let's not put it in the hands of fate. Let's not put it in the hands of someone who doesn't know me. I know me best. Then take a breath and go ahead.