LaVern Baker began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949.
14 Facts About LaVern Baker
2.
LaVern Baker changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951 and then was billed as LaVern Baker when she sang with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
3.
Georgia Gibbs recorded a note-for-note cover of the song, which reached number 1; subsequently LaVern Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
4.
LaVern Baker then left Atlantic for Brunswick Records, for which she recorded the album Let Me Belong to You.
5.
LaVern Baker toured Australia in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon's Big Show, performing with a number of rock 'n' roll bands including Bill Haley and the Comets.
6.
In 1966, LaVern Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson.
7.
LaVern Baker became seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia after a trip to Vietnam.
8.
LaVern Baker remained there for 22 years, returning to the United States after the base was closed in 1988.
9.
LaVern Baker performed a song for Alan Parker's film Angel Heart, which appeared on the original vinyl soundtrack album but was not included on the later CD issue "for contractual reasons".
10.
LaVern Baker continued performing after both legs were amputated because of complications due to diabetes in 1994.
11.
LaVern Baker made her last recording, "Jump into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry, on the Music Masters label.
12.
In 1990 LaVern Baker was among the first eight recipients of the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
13.
LaVern Baker died of cardiovascular disease on March 10,1997, at the age of 67.
14.
LaVern Baker was buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery, in Kew Gardens, New York.