Anita Baker

Anita Baker is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her contralto voice and emotional delivery in the genres of soul, jazz, and R&B. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Baker began her career in the late 1970s as a member of the funk band Chapter 8. She released her first solo album, "The Songstress," in 1983, marking the beginning of her solo career.

Baker's breakthrough was the release of her second album, "Rapture" in 1986, which featured the Grammy-winning single "Sweet Love." The album was a commercial success, going multi-platinum and earning Baker her first two Grammy Awards. Her rich, contralto voice, capable of spanning a wide range of octaves, set her apart in the industry. This success was followed by the release of "Giving You the Best That I Got" in 1988, her most successful album, selling 5 million copies worldwide. It was succeeded by "Compositions" in 1990, another successful album that sold over a million copies.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Anita Baker's career remained strong, with albums like "Rhythm of Love" and "My Everything," both of which topped the R&B charts. After taking a brief break from music in 1991 to start a family, Baker returned to the charts with "Rhythm of Love." The album's hit single "Body and Soul" won her eighth Grammy. She continued touring throughout her career, including the Rhythm of Love World Tour from December 1994 to November 1995 and a two-year concert tour titled "An Evening with Anita Baker" starting in 2007. In 2005, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

In 2013, Baker returned to the national spotlight, performing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and earning a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. In addition to her eight Grammy Awards, Baker has been recognized with four American Music Awards and numerous nominations. In 2018, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. She was also inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2013. Her influence extends beyond her recordings, as she is often cited as an inspiration by other artists in the R&B and soul genres.

Despite confirming her retirement in 2017, Baker emerged from retirement in 2018. In 2023, Rolling Stone listed her at number 92 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Today, Baker continues to be active in her career, most recently performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field for the 2022 NFC Championship Game.