Anita Baker

Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter known for her soulful ballads. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, 'The Songstress,' in 1983. Her second album, 'Rapture,' released in 1986, catapulted her to fame with the Grammy-winning single 'Sweet Love.' With eight Grammy Awards and four Platinum albums, Baker is highly regarded for her contralto voice and range of nearly three octaves. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Baker was raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan, after her mother abandoned her. She began singing R&B at Detroit nightclubs and was discovered by a bandleader at the age of 16.