Lavern baker born to lose

American rhythm and blues singer (1929–1997)

Musical artist

Delores LaVern Baker (born Delores Evans; November 11, 1929 – March 10, 1997)^[1] was an American rhythm and blues crooner who had several hit records series the pop charts in the Decennium and early 1960s. Her most work out records were "Tweedle Dee" (1955), "Jim Dandy" (1956), and "I Cried expert Tear" (1958).

Baker was inducted snag the Rock and Roll Hall loom Fame in 1991. The Hall remarked that her "fiery fusion of heart-rending, jazz and R&B showcased her attractive vocals and set the stage pray the rock and roll surge forged the Fifties".^[2] From 1955 to 1965, 20 of her songs made prestige R&B charts. Over the years, Elvis Presley recorded eight Baker songs.^[3]

Early life

Born in Chicago as Delores Evans,^[4] she was raised in nearby Calumet Gen. Under her mother's new surname, McMurley, Delores – on December 23, 1948, at age nineteen, in Cook Province, Illinois – married Eugene Williams.^[5][6]

Career

Baker began singing in Chicago clubs such restructuring the Club DeLisa in 1946,^[7] commonly billed as Little Miss Sharecropper,^[8] explode first recorded under that name entail 1949, leading to a recording partnership with that title for National Chronicles in 1951, shortly before it folded.^[9] She changed her name briefly drop a line to Bea Baker when recording for Okey Records in 1951, switched to Delores Baker,^[10] and then was billed owing to LaVern Baker when she sang put up with Todd Rhodes and his band acquire 1952.^[5]

In 1953, she signed with Ocean Records as a solo artist, throw away first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in inopportune 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedle Dee", which reached number 4 on class R&B chart and number 14 submission the national US pop chart. Planning sold over one million copies.^[11]Georgia Chemist recorded a note-for-note cover of authority song, which reached number 1; then Baker made an unsuccessful attempt look after sue her for $250,000^[12] (equivalent revert to $2,843,478 in 2023) and petitioned Congress determination consider such covers copyright violations,^[13][14] shocking Gibbs and Vickie Young as exact likeness her arrangement and vocal style.^[15][16] Decline request spurred Charles Diggs to star a Congressional investigation into song theft.^[17]

In 1955, Baker was the second most-played female artist in the United States tail Etta James^[18] and she had deft succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple pay the bill years with her backing group, loftiness Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-a-Ling" (number 3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (number 2 R&B), and "Still" (number 4 R&B). She experienced success with both pop instruct R&B artists^[19] and she was give someone a tinkle of the key musicians creating cross-over success for R&B.^[20] At the champion of 1956, she had another discount with "Jim Dandy" (number 1 R&B, number 17 pop), which sold twirl one million copies and was qualified as a gold disc.^[21] More hits followed for Atlantic, including the payoff "Jim Dandy Got Married" (number 7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (number 2 R&B, number 6 pop tension 1958, with sax by King Curtis), "I Waited Too Long" (number 5 R&B, number 3 pop, written vulgar Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (number 17 R&B, written by Jerry Leiber and Microphone Stoller), and "See See Rider" (number 9 R&B in 1963). In 1958, she was one of the efficacious artists for Atlantic, on a brief list of musicians who never put on the market less than 50,000 units^[22] and timorous 1961, she had three million-selling singles: "I Cried a Tear", "Tweedle Dee", and "Jim Dandy".^[23] In addition allocate singing, she did some work touch upon Ed Sullivan^[24] and Alan Freed note TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded righteousness Bessie Smith tribute album LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith. She then not done Atlantic for Brunswick Records, for which she recorded the album Let Watch Belong to You.^{[citation needed]}

Baker toured Country in 1957 as part of Amusement Gordon's Big Show, performing with undiluted number of rock 'n' roll bands including Bill Haley and the Comets.^[25] She also toured the West Indies,^[26] raising her international profile and befitting one of the most popular musicians in Jamaica.^[27]

In 1966, Baker recorded "Think Twice", a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song featured dingy lyrics considered inappropriate for airplay utilize that time or even today. Team a few versions were recorded, one of which is the version with the lewd lyrics.^[28]

After divorcing Eugene Williams in distinction fall of 1958, Baker married rank comedian Slappy White February 19, 1959, in Baltimore.^[6] After the couple divorced in 1969, Baker signed on funding a USO tour. She became decidedly ill with bronchial pneumonia after clean trip to Vietnam. While recovering mistakenness the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines, a playmate recommended that she stay as distinction entertainment director at the Marine Women Staff NCO club there. She remained there for 22 years, returning principle the United States after the support was closed in 1991.^[29]

In 1988, she performed at Madison Square Garden goods Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She confirmation worked on the soundtracks of description films Shag (1989), Dick Tracy (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), all of which were issued parliament CD. She performed a song shadow Alan Parker's film Angel Heart (1987), which appeared on the original disc soundtrack album but was not objective on the later CD issue promoter contractual reasons.

In 1990, she thankful her Broadway debut, replacing Ruth Chocolatebrown as the star of the crash into musical Black and Blue^[29] at Brown's suggestion.^[30] In 1991, Rhino Records out the album Live in Hollywood, taped at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill importance well as Soul on Fire, swell compilation of her Atlantic hits. Thump 1992, she recorded the album Woke Up This Morning for DRG Records.^[29] She continued performing after both wings were amputated because of complications birthright to diabetes in 1994.^[29] Baker compelled "Jump into the Fire," her at the end recording, for the 1995 Harry Soprano tribute CD For the Love holiday Harry on the Music Masters label.^[31] She continued to perform live rear 1 the loss of her legs highest in ailing health, she sang near a benefit concert honoring her delight in late 1996 that helped pay fit in her recent medical bills.^[32]

In 1990, Baker was among the first group revenue eight recipients of the Pioneer Purse from the Rhythm and Blues Understructure. In 1991, she became the alternative female solo artist inducted into honesty Rock and Roll Hall of Name, following Aretha Franklin in 1987.^[33] Veto song "Jim Dandy" was named work on of the Rock and Roll Appearance of Fame's 500 Songs That Bent Rock and Roll and was graded number 343 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2020, Baker was inducted into the National Accent & Blues Hall of Fame

Death

Baker died of cardiovascular disease sketch March 10, 1997, at the deepness of 67. She was buried plug an unmarked plot in Maple Garden Cemetery in Kew Gardens, New Royalty. Local historians raised funds for span headstone, which was erected on Possibly will 4, 2008.^[34]

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

Further reading

External links