Anita Baker divorce, married, net worth, salary, affair, boyfriend, husband

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<a href="/biography/anita-baker">Anita Denise Baker</a> is a <a href="/biography/anita-baker">singer-songwriter</a> from the United States. During the peak of current R&B's quiet storm period in the 1980s, she was <a href="/biography/anita-baker">one</a> of the most prominent singers of soulful romantic ballads. Baker began her career with the funk band Chapter 8 in the late 1970s, and her debut solo album, The Songstress, was published in 1983. She became famous after the publication of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, in 1986, which featured the Grammy-winning ballad "Sweet Love."

<h2>Background and Age</h2>

<a href="/biography/anita-baker">Anita Denise Baker</a> was born in Toledo, Ohio, on January 26, 1958. Baker's mother abandoned her when she was two years old, and a foster family raised her in Detroit, Michigan. Baker was raised by her foster sister when her foster parents died when Baker was 12 years old. Baker began singing R&B in Detroit nightclubs when she was 16 years old. Bandleader David Washington spotted her after one performance, and he offered her a card to audition for the funk band, Chapter 8.

Baker joined Chapter 8 in 1975, and the band travelled until 1979 when they signed a deal with Ariola Records. That year, the group's debut album, Chapter 8, was published, with the hits "Ready for Your Love," a duet between Baker and bandmate Gerald Lyles, and "I Just Want to Be Your Girl," Baker led. Arista Records acquired Ariola Records in 1979, and Chapter 8 was dropped by the company, which believed Baker, as the group's lead singer, had "star potential." Baker returned to Detroit and worked as a waitress and receptionist until <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Smith_(basketball)">Otis Smith</a>, a former Ariola <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Smith_(basketball)">partner</a>, persuaded Baker to launch a solo career under his Beverly Glen label in 1982.

<h2>Career and Net Worth</h2>

Anita Baker started her career in singing when she was sixteen years old. She worked in a Detroit nightclub as a singer. David Washington discovered Anita when he saw her performing and offered her an invitation to audition for the funk band, Chapter 8. Baker released her two most famous and award-winning albums, "The Songstress" in 1983 and 'Rapture,' in 1986. Baker won a Grammy award for Sweet Love from the album "Rapture." She signed a deal in 1979 with Ariola Records, in which she invested a lot of time touring. Some of her famous song releases were "Ready for Your Love," "I Just Want to Be Your Girl," and "Will You Be Mine."

Despite her early success, Baker complained that she hadn't received any royalties from work. By 1984, Baker sought to leave the label but was sued by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Smith_(basketball)">Smith</a> for breach of contract in 1985. After months in court debating the matter, it was concluded that Baker should be allowed to record for other labels, winning the case against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Smith_(basketball)">Smith</a>. Baker then signed with the Warner Music Group associated Elektra Records label in 1985 and began working on her next album. Her Elektra contract allowed the singer creative control and produced her music, something she didn't do at Beverly Glen. Baker used her old Chapter 8 bandmate, songwriter, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Powell">producer</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Powell">Michael J. Powell</a> on her first Elektra album even though label execs were initially unhappy with her choice of Powell over more established producers.

Baker came up with a new solo, "Giving You the Best That I Got," which was a great hit being at the top list of Billboard 200. All of her releases during this time became one of the top ten songs of Billboard 200. "Giving You the Best That I Got" reached the third position, "Just Because" was in the top twenty, and a third "Lead Me into Love" reached the top ten as well. A few of her other songs, "Talk to me," "Fairy Tales, "Soul Inspiration," also fetched her good numbers.

Baker released a new solo album, 'My Everything, which was in 4th position on Billboard 200 and as number one on R&B charts. Along with R&B albums, Baker also sang Christmas songs and performed the National Anthem. Her track, "Lately," got a Grammy Award in 2013. In 2018, Anita Baker announced that she had decided to retire from her iconic singing career after three decades. <a href="/biography/stevie-wonder">Surprise guest</a> <a href="/biography/stevie-wonder">Stevie Wonder</a> echoed that sentiment as Baker closed her second sold-out date at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with her signature song "Angel.".

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<h2>Marriage, Husband, and Kids</h2>

Anita Baker got married to Walter Bridgeforth in 1988 and has two sons from the marriage; Walter Baker Bridgeforth and Edward Carlton Bridgeforth. She filed for a divorce from her husband in 2005 and got divorced in 2007. Anita agreed to give Walter a part of Baker's money in music royalties when the couple separated. She did not pay the money, even after the deadline, even though she was threatened with serving a jail term. At a court hearing, Baker rose to speak under oath, telling the judge it was a "very stressful situation" to review the documents under the threat of jail. After a recess, the judge relented, saying: "I'm not going to hold you in contempt or send you to jail today." The judge then instructed Baker, her lawyers, Bridgforth's attorney, to make language acceptable to all parties. The sides retreated to the jury room and returned later to inform the judge that they had reached a deal. Everyone seemed pleased with the outcome, even the judge.

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sample">Joe Sample</a> was Baker's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sample">boyfriend</a> before she met Walter. She also dated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Albright">Gerald Albright</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Hewett">Howard Hewett</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Beverly">Frankie Beverly</a>. In 2012, she stated that she has started to date again. She said that her sons are in college now, and it is time for her to begin her transition. She said that at her age, dating is a different experience. It was rumored that <a href="/biography/tom-joyner">Tom Joyner</a> was her <a href="/biography/tom-joyner">lover</a>. However, the rumor was tagged to be a false alarm, and it was said that she and <a href="/biography/tom-joyner">Tom</a> are just friends and she was dating someone else.

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