By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 03:47 pm:

What in the hell has happened to Anita Baker? One of the great stylists of the last 25 years and she has not released an album in almost 10 years. Over the last five years there have been announcements of an album appearing but no cigar. Does anyone know what she is doing? I have heard from musicians who have worked with her (and one who was fired) that she is intensely difficult to work with.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 03:54 pm:

Cleo/Michael:
I mentioned this in another thread regarding Anita. Early this year she performed two sold-out shows at Westbury Music Fair in Long Island, NY. She also appeared on the CBS Morning Show singing "Giving You The Best That I Got" and was marvelous. She talked about why she was out of the spotlight (wanting to take time off and raise her two sons).

From what I've been told from friends in the industry, she had a few labels express interest in signing Anita - two of them are prominent jazz companies.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 06:28 pm:

I also remember reading that she wanted to raise a family. What ultimately influenced her decision was that she had miscarried once or twice while touring/recording and did not want to risk that happening again. Good for her!!

Perhaps, after in a few more years, she will grace us with a return to recording and performing.....

By soulaholic (68.41.47.183) on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 07:48 pm:

Hello All:

Anita B. shows up every now and then in the Metro Detroit area. She has been out of sight but just around the bend. The last time I heard about her was for an event with the city of Detroit where she performed.

Soulaholic

By stranger56 (24.47.50.195) on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 11:23 pm:

Hi All:

I was at the Westbury shows, and I must tell you A.B. was wonderful!!
She looks different from what we all remember, but she's happy and she's absolutely charming, which was NOT the case when she was there a few years back. The Diva mentality is gone, and she is very personable and a pleasure.
And she not only sings Angel, but she sings like one!!
LOL
I look forward to her return.

Jim

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:29 am:

There was an article in the Detroit News or Free Press a few weeks ago about her making a comeback. I have it around here somewhere...

Isn't she on Foxy Brown's new album?

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:42 am:

...Yeah, Julian, I heard she is on Foxy's new album also...

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:55 pm:

Thanks everyone for all the info. Anita Baker's career was on such a roll and then she seemed to disappear. Usually when this happens to an artist it is because of bad record sales or label troubles. No matter her reputation she seemed to always put out creative and wonderful albums and it seemed strange for her to give it up for such a long period of time. Labels should jump at the chance to release her "new" record (whatever that is!).

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 04:32 am:

I read that her parents or some senior individuals in her life were ill and she left the recording business to take care of them. That's way cool.

By acooolcat (61.58.181.63) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 06:38 am:

Didn't Anita record or Fee Records, as part of a group?
Graham

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 11:53 am:

She was in a group called Chapter 8, right? I remember that they had some local hits.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 12:26 pm:

Julian:
Right as rain...she recorded with Chapter 8 prior to going solo.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Greg C. (207.103.134.153) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

Ms. Baker chose her family and her personal life over the whole "star" trip. She was wise enough to pocket her pennies so that when the recordings and touring cooled out she was able to sit back and chill and live off her earnings. Smart lady! I've always liked her yet after reading the recent article about her in the Detroit News I came away with the deepest respect and admiration.

I feel in my heart that we'll be hearing from her again soon. Heard she was talking with Blue Note and/or Verve Records. Either label would be excellent for her and would know how to package and market her music.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 03:09 pm:

Greg:
Right on about seeing her again. She did elaborate in her appearance on the CBS Morning Show that she did spend more time raising her family. Being that she wrote and was the executive producer of her Elektra albums, I'm sure she didn't have to worry about money during these years.

I hope Blue Note or Verve sign her soon - I miss hearing her wonderful voice singing new songs!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 05:22 pm:

What is going on with the recording that had the "popping noise" (2 years ago or something to that effect)? Will that ever be released or will it stay canned. Curious.


Handsome

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.170) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Good news...Anita is doing two shows in Shelter Island (San Diego), CA on 8/5 & 8/6! I hope this means she really is planning her comeback!
(The venue seats 1,295...the tickets are $85.00 for show only, and $132.00 for dinner and show.)

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 09:36 pm:

I will never attend an Anita Baker show or buy an Anita Baker record because of her role in destroying one of the most historic houses in Detroit to put up a franchised pancake house.

By Des (81.152.238.59) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 09:39 pm:

What's the story,Fury13?
Des

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

Scroll down to Chene, Alexander, House (also known as Little Harry's Restaurant):

http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MI/Wayne/state.html

Members of the Chene family were among Detroit's pioneering French families. Chene Street bears the family name. The house, from the mid-19th century, was knocked down by Anita Baker and her husband in the early '90s to put up an IHOP, for God's sake.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 10:01 pm:

WELL FURY!!!...YOU REALLY COULDN'T COMPLAIN IF ANITA HAD ANITA PUT UP A "BAKERS SQUARE" RESTAURANT!!!...STUBASS

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

I used to be an Anita Baker fan, but I'll never forgive her for that.

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.106.8) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 11:50 am:

Fury 13, I agree with you 100%.When Anita and her husband tore down historic Little Harrys resturant to put up a plastic franchise pancake house. I then knew they were money-grubbing a-holes.
When you see how well the owners of the historic Whitney House resturant restored the 1800s house,you think of what could have been done to Little Harrys. What a shame!!!

By Who dat is?? (141.152.255.17) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 11:58 am:

I said it before and I'll say it again, IMO Anita Baker sounds like a foghorn.
She has bad enunciation as if she is singing with a mouth full of marbles.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 01:25 pm:

I really felt bad when Anita's husband fought in court to tear down that beautiful restaurant, after fighting IHOP to be able to own an IHOP.

However, WhoDatIs, Anita can sing.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 09:30 pm:

Fury 13 & Friends In Detroit:
I'm sorry that Anita & her husband performed a deed that should have never happened.

I still feel that Anita is a fine singer and loved her voice since I first heard "Sweet Love" in 1986.

Different strokes.....

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By dvdmike (68.72.92.152) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 10:27 pm:

One does not need perfect enunciation in order to sing well. I have always liked Maurice White, even though he has often sounded as if he were singing with a cold.

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.106.8) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 08:31 am:

KevGo,I think she's a fine singer also but after seeing that historic house bulldozed because it was cheaper to put up a formica resturant,well--

The sad thing is that she knew that she was tearing down one of the few historic houses on Jefferson near the Detroit river and was begged not to.

So as much as I like her singing,I think I'll buy a Diana Washington or Sarah Vaughn or even Koko Taylor (You can have my husband but don't you mess around with my man) LOL

By Greg C. (166.84.225.9) on Friday, August 01, 2003 - 02:55 pm:

As a former Detroiter I was saddened to hear that a historical structure was demolished for a pancake house yet quite frankly the overall appearance of Detroit looks "demolished". Everytime I go home to see family and friends I am stunned how apathy and indifference has allowed a city so dynamic to fall into such a ragged state of disrepair. Blocks and blocks of dilapidated housing, fields of weeds, and a lack of basic city services. So please don't go blaming Ms. Baker for tearing down one structure when the majority of Detroit is ragged and falling apart. Blame the city government who dropped the ball and has driven so many people away thereby eroding Detroit's tax base to keep it a vital and functional city. Blame the citizens of Detroit who don't vote and partake in the process and allow these inept politicians the power to make decisions that control the quality of the people's lives.

Enough politics.

If anyone is interested Anita Baker has launched her own official website at
www.anitabaker.org. It's worth a look-see.