LaVern Baker

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Biography

Chicago, Illinois, USA (1946 – 1967, 1988 – 1991)

LaVern Baker (1929–1997) was an American rhythm & blues singer, originally billed as “Little Miss Sharecropper”, then “Bea Baker”. She had taken the first name “LaVern” by 1952, when she began recording with Todd Rhodes and his band (she is occasionally known as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to a Eugene Williams). She was active from 1946–1967 and again from 1988 – 1991.

She was born Delores Baker on 11th November 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. By 1953 Baker had signed with Atlantic Records, and immediately began releasing hits, such as “Soul on Fire” and “Tweedlee Dee”. In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on television and in films. In the late 1960s, Baker fell ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers, and she stayed in semi-retirement until 1988. (A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at a Marine Corps nightclub at the Subic Bay Naval Base, and that’s what she did for twenty years.) At that point, she performed at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records’ fortieth anniversary. She then worked on the soundtrack to Dick Tracy and appeared in Black & Blue, a Broadway musical, and released a comeback disc that sold moderately well.

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  • memekiwii

    Pure Shiny Brilliance !!

    1 Oct 2012 Reply
  • btnybay

    love her music

    17 Apr 2012 Reply
  • Grosseteste

    I'm not embarrassed by her singles....

    9 Mar 2012 Reply
  • Castizo

    Saved

    1 Jul 2011 Reply
  • 1969SL

    Early rock pioneer who had figure of Mae West and voice of big,bad blues mama. Embarrassing hit singles but excellent albums. Check her gospel and Bessie Smith tribute studio albums!

    23 Jun 2011 Reply
  • orangetm

    Love me right.

    15 May 2011 Reply
  • insomniacme

    <3

    27 Feb 2011 Reply
  • jaskiel

    Bumble Bee is amazing and timeless song!

    2 Sep 2010 Reply
  • burning-flag

    i used to smoke, i used to drink ♥

    12 Aug 2010 Reply
  • thegoodnames

    My Happiness Forever is the best song out of all of hers.

    12 Apr 2010 Reply
  • BayAreaVenus

    thank you last fm for another one! she's amazing. So does this mean Elvis had a crush on ms lavern? (in little sister he says "along came Jim Dandy and they snuck right out the door" and she has a song called jim dandy... speculating lol)

    29 Jan 2010 Reply
  • staytooned

    !

    25 Apr 2009 Reply
  • ShangoOrisha

    I can't believe Bumble Bee is not in the top tracks...

    27 Jan 2009 Reply
  • rinygrin

    Tiny Tim is a lover ♥ (He's a real gone lover) ♥

    16 Sep 2008 Reply
  • Repeataarrr

    sopranos!

    27 May 2008 Reply
  • Grosseteste

    I'm still waiting for the reissue of the Atlantic LP Hits and Rarities, which has one of my favourite of her sides: Bumble Bee.

    31 Jul 2007 Reply

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