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After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl Baker began her professional singing career with the band [[Co-Co (band)|Co-Co]]. The group entered [[Eurovision: Your Decision|''A Song for Europe'']] in 1976 with the song "Wake Up". They came second, being beaten by (eventual Eurovision winners) [[Brotherhood of Man]] by two points.
After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl Baker began her professional singing career with the band [[Co-Co (band)|Co-Co]]. The group entered [[Eurovision: Your Decision|''A Song for Europe'']] in 1976 with the song "Wake Up". They came second, being beaten by (eventual Eurovision winners) [[Brotherhood of Man]] by two points.


The group continued to perform together and in 1978, they entered ''A Song for Europe'' again with "[[The Bad Old Days]]". This time they won and went on to perform for the UK in [[Paris]]. The song managed 11th place - the lowest placing by a UK entry up to that point.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/artists/b/bucks_fizz/located/page1.shtml |title= Where are they Now - Cheryl Baker |author=BBC - TOTP2|accessdate=2008-12-5 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/1978.htm |title= Eurovision Song Contest 1978 |author=Eurovision covers|accessdate=2008-10-10 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref> In 1997, Cheryl told the [[BBC]] TV show ''The O'Zone'' that after this experience, she ''"would never do it again. Never would I put myself through this again!"'' The song became a hit single however, reaching the British top 20. On the back of this, the group released their first (and only) album as well as further singles. None of these found any success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherylbaker.net/COCO.htm |title= Co-Co discography |author=Cheryl Baker.net|accessdate=2008-10-10 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref>
The group continued to perform together and in 1978, they entered ''A Song for Europe'' again with "[[The Bad Old Days]]". This time they won and went on to perform for the UK in [[Paris]]. The song managed 11th place - the lowest placing by a UK entry up to that point.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/artists/b/bucks_fizz/located/page1.shtml |title= Where are they Now - Cheryl Baker |author=BBC - TOTP2|accessdate=2008-12-5 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/1978.htm |title= Eurovision Song Contest 1978 |author=Eurovision covers|accessdate=2008-10-10 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref> ' The song became a hit single, reaching 14 in the British top 20. On the back of this, the group released their first (and only) album as well as further singles. None of these found any success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherylbaker.net/COCO.htm |title= Co-Co discography |author=Cheryl Baker.net|accessdate=2008-10-10 |dateformat=dmy}}</ref>


In 1980, the group tried for Eurovision one more time. Now under a new name, The Main Event, their song "Gonna Do My Best" came last in ''A Song for Europe'' and soon afterwards, the group disbanded.
In 1980, the group tried for Eurovision one more time. Now under a new name, The Main Event, their song "Gonna Do My Best" came last in ''A Song for Europe'' and soon afterwards, the group disbanded.

Revision as of 11:59, 6 February 2009

Cheryl Baker

Cheryl Baker (born Rita Maria Crudgington, on 8 March 1954, in Bethnal Green, London) is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.

Early career

After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl Baker began her professional singing career with the band Co-Co. The group entered A Song for Europe in 1976 with the song "Wake Up". They came second, being beaten by (eventual Eurovision winners) Brotherhood of Man by two points.

The group continued to perform together and in 1978, they entered A Song for Europe again with "The Bad Old Days". This time they won and went on to perform for the UK in Paris. The song managed 11th place - the lowest placing by a UK entry up to that point.[1][2] ' The song became a hit single, reaching 14 in the British top 20. On the back of this, the group released their first (and only) album as well as further singles. None of these found any success.[3]

In 1980, the group tried for Eurovision one more time. Now under a new name, The Main Event, their song "Gonna Do My Best" came last in A Song for Europe and soon afterwards, the group disbanded.

Bucks Fizz

A few months later, Baker was contacted by songwriter and manager, Nichola Martin, who was setting up a new group under the name Bucks Fizz, with a view to entering a song "Making Your Mind Up" into the Song For Europe in 1981. Joined by Mike Nolan, Bobby G and Jay Aston, Baker performed the song at the contest and won. On 4 April 1981, Baker represented the UK again at the Eurovision Song Contest. The song went on to win by a margin of four points and Bucks Fizz were catapulted into overnight stardom.[4]

By winning the contest, Baker became only the 3rd singer to represent the UK twice, following in the footsteps of Ronnie Carroll and Cliff Richard. When Bucks Fizz went on to win the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up", Baker thus became one of the few artists to take part in Eurovision to win at their 2nd attempt. According to The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History by John Kennedy O'Connor, Baker also made the single biggest improvement by any Eurovision competitor in the contest, moving up from 11th in 1978 to 1st in 1981. [5]

"Making Your Mind Up" became a No.1 hit in many countries, including the UK and began a run of success for the group for the next five years. Baker along with the group toured the world and gained many hit singles and albums, including two more British No.1s; "The Land Of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies". Bucks Fizz became established as one of the biggest groups of the 1980s.[6]

In December 1984, Baker was involved in a serious coach crash while on tour with the group. She was injured and rushed to hospital. She made a speedy recovery, but colleague Mike Nolan suffered serious head wounds and following this, she set up the charity HeadFirst, which deals with crash victims, specifically relating to head injuries.[7] Baker continues to raise money for this charity today.

In the mid-80s, while still with the group, Baker embarked on a career in television presenting. Working on shows such as Record Breakers with Roy Castle and The Saturday Picture Show with Mark Curry, she continued both careers in tandem, although always maintained that singing was her first love and "Bucks Fizz always come first". Bucks Fizz scored their final hit in 1988, and in the same year, Baker began presenting her own TV Show Eggs 'n' Baker. This went on to run for five years.

During this time, she also released two solo singles "If Paradise Is Half As Nice" in 1987 and "Sensuality" in 1992, although neither of these found chart success.[8] [9]

Still continuing with touring and TV work, Baker finally quit Bucks Fizz in December 1993. [10]

Recent career

After leaving Bucks Fizz, Baker carried on presenting Record Breakers, now alongside Kriss Akabusi.[11] In 1997 she became the subject of the TV Biography show This Is Your Life.[12] Into the 2000s, Baker made many guest appearances on television, including The Weakest Link, GMTV, Loose Women and Bargain Hunt. She has also participated in a number of reality television shows, such as Drop the Celebrity(which she won), The Salon and I'm Famous and Frightened!.[10]

For the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, she read out the points from the United Kingdom. In the EBU's 50th anniversary celebration of the show Congratulations, she introduced the song "Waterloo" by ABBA. Later on during the same programme, she sung Buck Fizz's winning song "Making Your Mind Up" live with Nolan and later member Shelley Preston.

Baker's other presenting work includes the satellite and Freeview shopping channel Price-Drop TV. In 2006, she made was a special guest star on ITV Play's cult late night quiz show The Mint.

In 2006 Baker played the role of Vi Moore in the London production of Footloose, the musical based on the 1984 motion picture of the same name, at the Novello Theatre. In 2008, she was seen in the role of Mrs Mayor in a touring production of Seussical the Musical. The tour visited many towns in the South East of England.[10]

She is currently performing selected gigs with Nolan and Preston under the name 'The Original Bucks Fizz' and alongside the other original members, Bobby G and Jay Aston, appeared in the video for Comic Relief's 2007 single, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". A new Bucks Fizz CD with a bonus DVD, The Very Best of Bucks Fizz was released on 14 May, 2007. A new CD of rare material "The Lost Masters - The Final Cut" was released on 19 May 2008. [13]

Baker still raises money for HeadFirst and regularly makes personal appearances on behalf of the charity, most recently on Celebrity Cash in the Attic in July 2008. She has also recently campaigned on behalf of IVF treatment and cleaner NHS hospitals.[14]

Personal life

Baker has three brothers Eddie, Colin and Gary and a sister, Sheila.[15] She married guitarist Steve Stroud on 25th January 1992 and gave birth to twin girls, Kyla and Natalie in 1994. She currently lives in Kent.[10]

In 2006 she spoke out about her experiencing the menopause and resulting hair loss. This led to her being contracted to advertise Viviscal which helps thinning hair. She has also spoken of her weight fluctuations over the years.

See also

References

  1. ^ BBC - TOTP2. "Where are they Now - Cheryl Baker". Retrieved 2008-12-5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Eurovision covers. "Eurovision Song Contest 1978". Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Cheryl Baker.net. "Co-Co discography". Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Eurovision covers. "1981 Eurovision Song Contest". Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  5. ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books UK ISBN 978-1844429943
  6. ^ Chartstats. "Bucks Fizz UK Chart history". Retrieved 2008-7-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  7. ^ HeadFirst. "Cheryl Baker's story". Retrieved 2009-2-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Chartstats. "Cheryl Baker - "If Paradise is Half as Nice"". Retrieved 2008-7-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Cheryl Baker.net. "Solo singles". Retrieved 2008-10-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  10. ^ a b c d Cheryl Baker.net. "Cheryl Baker biography". Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Screen online. "Record Breakers". Retrieved 2008-7-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  12. ^ TV.com. "This is Your Life - Cheryl Baker". Retrieved 2008-7-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  13. ^ The early years. "Bucks Fizz album releases". Retrieved 2009-2-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Tony Clayman. "Cheryl Baker biography". Retrieved 2009-2-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Look-in. "Cheryl Baker profile". Retrieved 2009-2-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
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