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LaVern Baker

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LaVern Baker
Baker in 1956
Baker in 1956
Background information
Birth nameDelores Evans
Also known asDelores Williams
Little Miss Sharecropper
Bea Baker
Born(1929-11-11)November 11, 1929
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 1997(1997-03-10) (aged 67)
Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresR&B
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active1946–1969, 1988–1996
LabelsNational, Okeh, Columbia, Atlantic, London, Brunswick
SpouseEugene Williams (m. 1948)

Delores LaVern Baker (born Delores Evans; November 11, 1929 – March 10, 1997)[1] was an American rhythm and blues singer who had several hit records on the pop charts in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedle Dee" (1955), "Jim Dandy" (1956), and "I Cried a Tear" (1958).

Baker was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. The Hall remarked that her "fiery fusion of blues, jazz and R&B showcased her alluring vocals and set the stage for the rock and roll surge of the Fifties".[2] From 1955 to 1965, 20 of her songs made the R&B charts. Over the years, Elvis Presley recorded eight Baker songs.[3]

Early life

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

Career

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A photo of Baker looking toward the camera
A photo of Baker from 1954
Baker smiling and looking over her shoulder
Baker c. 1957

Baker began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa in 1946,[7] often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper,[8] and first recorded under that name in 1949, leading to a recording deal with that title for National Records in 1951, shortly before it folded.[9] She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, switched to Delores Baker,[10] and then was billed as LaVern Baker when she sang with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.[5]

In 1953, she signed with Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedle Dee", which reached number 4 on the R&B chart and number 14 on the national US pop chart. It sold over one million copies.[11] Georgia Gibbs recorded a note-for-note cover of the song, which reached number 1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her for $250,000[12] (equivalent to $2,843,478 in 2023) and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations,[13][14] citing Gibbs and Vickie Young as copying her arrangement and vocal style.[15][16] Her request spurred Charles Diggs to lead a Congressional investigation into song theft.[17]

In 1955, Baker was the second most-played female artist in the United States after Etta James[18] and she had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group, the 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 and R&B artists[19] and she was one of the key musicians creating cross-over success for R&B.[20] At the end of 1956, she had another hit with "Jim Dandy" (number 1 R&B, number 17 pop), which sold over one million copies and was certified as a gold disc.[21] More hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (number 7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (number 2 R&B, number 6 pop in 1958, with sax by King Curtis), "I Waited Too Long" (number 5 R&B, number 3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (number 17 R&B, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller), and "See See Rider" (number 9 R&B in 1963). In 1958, she was one of the best-selling artists for Atlantic, on a short list of musicians who never sold less than 50,000 units[22] and by 1961, she had three million-selling singles: "I Cried a Tear", "Tweedle Dee", and "Jim Dandy".[23] In addition to singing, she did some work with Ed Sullivan[24] and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded the Bessie Smith tribute album LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith. She then left Atlantic for Brunswick Records, for which she recorded the album Let Me Belong to You.[citation needed]

Baker toured Australia in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon's Big Show, performing with a 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 becoming 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 raunchy lyrics considered inappropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the version with the raunchy lyrics.[28]

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

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

In 1990, she made her Broadway debut, replacing Ruth Brown as the star of the hit musical Black and Blue[29] at Brown's suggestion.[30] In 1991, Rhino Records released the album Live in Hollywood, recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill as well as Soul on Fire, a compilation of her Atlantic hits. In 1992, she recorded the album Woke Up This Morning for DRG Records.[29] She continued performing after both legs were amputated because of complications due to diabetes in 1994.[29] Baker made "Jump into the Fire," her last recording, for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.[31] She continued to perform live after the loss of her legs and in ailing health, she sang at a benefit concert honoring her in late 1996 that helped pay for her recent medical bills.[32]

In 1990, Baker was among the first group of eight recipients of the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, she became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987.[33] Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked number 343 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2020, Baker was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame

Death

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God took my legs, but He left me my voice so I could continue to do what I love, to sing and entertain.

—Baker in late 1996[32]

Baker died of cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. She was buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, New York. Local historians raised funds for a headstone, which was erected on May 4, 2008.[34]

Discography

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Singles

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Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
U.S. U.S.
R&B
1953 "Soul on Fire"
b/w "How Can You Leave a Man Like This" 		— — LaVern Baker
1954 "I Can't Hold Out Any Longer"
b/w "I'm Living My Life for You" 		— — Non-album tracks
1955 "Tweedlee Dee"
b/w "Tomorrow Night" 		14 4 LaVern Baker
"Bop-Ting-a-Ling" / — 3
"That's All I Need" — 6
"Play It Fair"
b/w "Lucky Old Sun" 		— 2
1956 "My Happiness Forever" / — 13
"Get Up Get Up" — 15
"Fee Fee Fi Fo Fum"
b/w "I'll Do the Same for You" 		— — Non-album tracks
"Still" / 97 4 LaVern Baker
"I Can't Love You Enough" 22 7
"Jim Dandy" / 17 1
"Tra La La" 94 Flip
1957 "Jim Dandy Got Married"
b/w "The Game of Love" 		76 7 Non-album tracks
"Humpty Dumpty Heart"
b/w "Love Me Right" 		71 — Blues Ballads
"St. Louis Blues"
b/w "Miracles" (from LaVern) 		— —
1958 "Substitute"
b/w "Learning to Love" 		— — Non-album tracks
"Harbor Lights"
b/w "Whipper Snapper" (from Blues Ballads) 		— — LaVern
"It's So Fine"
b/w "Why Baby Why" 		— 24 Blues Ballads
"I Cried a Tear"
b/w "Dix-a-Billy" 		6 2
1959 "I Waited Too Long"
b/w "You're Teasing Me" 		33 5
"So High So Low" / 52 12
"If You Love Me" 79 —
"Tiny Tim"
b/w "For Love of You" (from Saved) 		63 18 Non-album track
1960 "Shake a Hand"
b/w "Manana" 		— 13 Saved
"Wheel of Fortune" / 83 —
"Shadows of Love" 83 —
"A Help-Each-Other Romance"
b/w "How Often"
Both tracks with Ben E. King 		— — Non-album tracks
"Bumble Bee"
b/w "My Time Will Come" 		46 — Saved
1961 "You're the Boss" (with Jimmy Ricks) / 81 — Non-album tracks
"I'll Never Be Free" (with Jimmy Ricks) 103 —
"Saved"
b/w "Don Juan" 		37 17 Saved
"I Didn't Know I Was Crying"
b/w "Hurtin' Inside" 		— — Non-album tracks
"Hey, Memphis"
b/w "Voodoo Voodoo" 		— —
1962 "No Love So True"
b/w "Must I Cry Again" (from Saved) 		— —
"See See Rider"
b/w "The Story of My Love" 		34 9 See See Rider
1963 "Trouble in Mind"
b/w "Half of Your Love" (from See See Rider) 		— — Non-album tracks
"Itty Bitty Girl"
b/w "Oh, Johnny Oh, Johnny" 		— —
1964 "You Better Find Yourself Another Fool"
b/w "Go Away" 		128 —
1965 "Fly Me to the Moon"
b/w "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" 		84 31
"Let Me Belong to You"
b/w "Pledging My Love" 		— — Let Me Belong to You
1966 "Think Twice" (with Jackie Wilson) / 93 37 Non-album tracks
"Please Don't Hurt Me" (with Jackie Wilson) 128 —
"One Monkey (Don't Stop the Show)"
b/w "Baby" (from Let Me Belong to You) 		— —
"Batman to the Rescue"
b/w "Call Me Darling" (from Let Me Belong to You) 		135 —
1967 "Wrapped, Tied and Tangled"
b/w "Nothing Like Being in Love" 		— —
"Born to Lose"
b/w "I Need You So" 		— — Let Me Belong to You
1969 "I'm the One to Do It"
b/w "Baby" 		— —

Albums

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References

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  1. ^ "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871–1949". FamilySearch (free database with images). Searching "Delores Evans," born November 11, 1929, Chicago, Illinois, Birth Certificate No. 50974, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse. Family History Library microfilm; Digital Folder No. 100664390; Image No. 549. May 18, 2016.
  2. ^ "LaVern Baker". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 21, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "LaVern Baker: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1991". Cleveland.com. January 1, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2022. Baker was late in receiving recognition for her role in the birth of rock and roll.
  4. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). "LaVern Baker". In Cohen, Norm (ed.). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 9780313344244. Retrieved December 16, 2020 – via Google Books. LCCN 2012-47437. ISBN 978-0-3133-4423-7. OCLC 820450820 (all editions).
  5. ^ a b Goldberg, Marv (2009). "Lavern Baker". Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Lavern Baker Marries Comedian Slappy White". Baltimore Afro-American. February 21, 1959. p. 4. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "Artists' Biographies for Jockey Programming". Billboard. p. 8. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ Deffaa, Chip (1996). Blue Rhythms: Six Lives in Rhythm and Blues. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-02203-3, ISBN 978-0-252-02203-6.
  9. ^ Webman, Hal. "Rhythm and Blues Notes". Music. Billboard. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510.
  10. ^ "People Are Talking About...". Jet. Vol. 1, no. 15. February 7, 1952. p. 45. ISSN 0021-5996.
  11. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 71. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  12. ^ "Theft of Singing Style Causes Some Feuds". Jet. Vol. 7, no. 16. February 24, 1955. p. 62. ISSN 0021-5996.
  13. ^ ""Black" Music Gets Whitewashed, as Georgia Gibbs Hits the Pop Charts with "The Wallflower (Dance With Me, Henry)"". Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 12, 1997). "LaVern Baker Is Dead at 67; a Rhythm-and-Blues Veteran". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  15. ^ "Lavern Baker Seeks Bill to Halt Arrangement 'Thefts'". Music-Radio. Billboard. p. 13. ISSN 0006-2510.
  16. ^ "Lavern Baker Asks Congress To Bar 'Song Thefts'". Jet. Vol. 7, no. 19. March 17, 1955. p. 59. ISSN 0021-5996.
  17. ^ "Congressman Digs To Probe Song Theft Complaint". Jet. Vol. 7, no. 20. March 24, 1955. p. 60. ISSN 0021-5996.
  18. ^ "1955: The Year R.&B. Took Over Pop Field". Virtual Surrender. Billboard. p. 126. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. ^ Rolontz, Bob. "Rhythm & Blues Notes". Music-Radio. Billboard. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510.
  20. ^ Simon, Bill (November 12, 1955). "Boundaries Between Music Types Fall; Deejays Spin 'Em All". Music-Radio. Billboard. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
  21. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie and Jenkins. p. 88. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  22. ^ Simon, Bill. "Atlantic Drives for Major Status". The Atlantic Records Story (1948–1958). Billboard. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510.
  23. ^ "Discourse". Billboard. April 10, 1961. p. 47. ISSN 0006-2510.
  24. ^ LaVern Baker bio Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine, A&E Television Networks, 2014; accessed September 28, 2014.
  25. ^ Evans, Raymond (2001). "Crazy news: Rock 'n' roll in Brisbane" In Shaw, Barry (ed). Brisbane: relaxation, recreation and rock 'n' roll - popular culture 1890-1990. Brisbane History Group. p. 93. ISBN 0958625522.
  26. ^ Kramer, Gary. "R&R and Big Beat Enchant Tropics". Music-Radio. Billboard. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510.
  27. ^ "U. S. R&R May Top Home Grown Calypso in BWI". Music-Radio. Billboard. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510.
  28. ^ Morgan, Jeffrey (2004). "Pervert's Ball, Side Two". Creem Online. Detroit, Michigan: Creem Media. Retrieved November 26, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ a b c d Talevski, Nick, ed. (2010). Rock Obituaries – Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  30. ^ "People Are Talking About...". Jet. Vol. 78, no. 12. July 2, 1990. p. 60. ISSN 0021-5996.
  31. ^ "LaVern Baker: Biography, Life, Facts and Songs". FamousSingers.org. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  32. ^ a b "Singer LaVern Baker Saluted At All-Star Benefit Concert". Celebrities. Jet. December 23, 1996. pp. 16–18.
  33. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Fifties Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 28/9. ISBN 0-85112-732-0.
  34. ^ Profile Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine, Nysac.com; accessed September 28, 2014.

Further reading

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