LaVern Baker: Diabetes Took her Legs but not Her Voice – Phantom Dancer

In 1953, she signed with Atlantic Records as a solo. Her first hit came in early 1955 with “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.

Georgia Gibbs recorded a note-for-note cover of the song, which reached number 1. Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her for $250,000, (equivalent to $2,934,472 in 2024) and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations, citing Gibbs and Vickie Young as copying her arrangement and vocal style. Her request spurred Charles Diggs to lead a Congressional investigation into song theft.

In 1955, Baker was the second most-played female artist in the United States after Etta James.

Baker toured Australia in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon’s Big Show, performing with Johnny O’Keefe, She also toured the West Indies, becoming one of the most popular musicians in Jamaica.

By 1961, she had three million-selling singles: “I Cried a Tear”, “Tweedle Dee”, and “Jim Dandy”

She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and sung Alan Freed’s radio show. Film appearances include Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll.

In 1964, she recorded the Bessie Smith tribute album LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith.

In 1966, Baker recorded “Think Twice”, a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song has three versions, in one of which ol’ LaVern works blue.

She performed at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records’ 40th anniversary in 1988.

She sang on the soundtracks of the films Angel Heart (1987), Shag (1989), Dick Tracy (1990), A Rage in Harlem (1991).

BAKER

Baker made her Broadway debut in 1990, replacing Ruth Brown as the star of the hit musical, Black and Blue.

Rhino Records released her album, Live in Hollywood, recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill in 1991, 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.

She continued performing even after both legs were amputated because of complications from diabetes in 1994.

Baker made, Jump into the Fire, her last recording in 1995.

She continued to perform live after the loss of her legs.

She sang at a benefit concert honouring her in late 1996 to help pay for her recent medical bills. At that time she said, “God took my legs, but He left me my voice so I could continue to do what I love, to sing and entertain.” Her country, with complicit black politicians, gifted her a lousy health care system, and substandard corporatised food supply, prioritising profits over health.

In 2021, Black Lies Matter activists claimed Baker spent 22 years in the Phillipines escaping racism. She was actually an active part of the American imperial war machine and part of the military occupation of another sovereign state.

AWARDS

In 1990, Baker was in 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.

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.