Anita Baker.

Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio) is a multi-platinum selling rhythm and blues singer-songwriter and 8 time Grammy Award winner. Baker is renowned for her soaring alto vocal range. Born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Baker began singing in a Baptist church choir at the age of 12. At age 16 she was in the band Humanity when she was approached by bass player David Washington of Chapter 8 to audition. In 1975, Baker joined Chapter 8, the most popular group of Detroit at the time. They spent a couple of years playing in and around Detroit, and eventually got a record deal with Ariola. The self-titled album came out in fall 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: “Ready for Your Love” and “I Just Wanna Be Your Girl”. Ariola Records suddenly ran into financial trouble and the company was bought by Arista. The executives at Arista did not care for Baker’s vocals and refused to renew Chapter 8’s record deal while Baker was a part of the group. After being rejected Baker went back home to Detroit and got a job as a receptionist for a local law firm. In 1981, Otis Smith, the man behind Chapter 8’s contract, formed his own label Beverly Glen. Remembering Baker’s vocals, he got her telephone number from a Chapter 8 member and called her in late 1982. Baker refused the job at first due to her duties as a receptionist. However, she agreed to sign with the label and try again with a music career. It would prove to be a smart move. In 1985, Baker got a …
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