Anita Baker and her Gift Trivia Quiz

Answer: Toledo, Ohio

Anita was born in Toledo, Ohio on January 26th, 1958.

She did not have the best childhood. She was abandoned by her birth mother at the age of two. She was raised by her mother's friend in Detroit, Michigan for a period of time. At the age of 13, Anita met her birth mother for the first time. Anita credits her foster parents for helping her feel loved.

Answer: Chapter 8

Anita started performing at jazz clubs in Detroit by the time she was 16. She joined "Chapter 8", quitting school after the bass player for the band heard her sing.

They had one hit and the band was dropped by Ariola Records because Anita lacked "star quality". I bet they kicked themselves years later.

Answer: The Songstress

"The Songstress" was released in 1983 and reached number twelve on the US Rhythm & Blues charts. It had such great songs as "No More Tears", "Will You Be Mine", "Angel" and my favorite, "You're the Best Thing Yet".

These songs were vintage Anita Baker. Her voice brought chills to me.

Even though this album sold 300,000 copies, Anita received no royalties.

Answer: Rapture

She won Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance: Female for the album and Best Rhythm and Blues for the song "Sweet Love".

Anita also won Favorite Soul/Rhythm & Blues album and Favorite Female Artist - Soul/ Rhythm and Blues in 1988 at the American Music Awards.

Answer: True

There were so many great tracks on the album "Rhythm of Love"(1994) including "I Apologize". The video was simple but beautiful. Anita was sitting on a stage wearing her small black dress and you felt like she was singing to that special person in her heart.

Answer: Contralto

According to Wikipedia, "a contralto is a type of classical female singing voice with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano." This meant that Anita held great low tones. This type was the lowest for most female singers.

Answer: The Winans

Although, James Ingram sang "When You Love Someone" with Anita in 1996; it did not win a Grammy but I think it should have. Barry J Eastmond and Babyface were collaborators on her albums but did not won a Grammy for this song.

Answer: Christmas Fantasy

The album contained such Christmas carols as "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman" but also had a few new tunes like "Frosty's Rag". "Moonlight Sleighride" was a new song written by Anita Baker and Barry J. Eastmond. She was recognized with another Grammy award nomination for Best Traditional Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance for the song "Christmas Time is Here".

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Anita sang on the album "Duets"(1993) with Frank Sinatra. Anita did not appear on Dean Martin duets album called "Forever Cool"(2007). She also did not appear on "Duets: An American Classic"(2006) with Tony Bennett.

Anita has not sung with Freddy Mercury and never can as he passed away on 24th November 1991.

Answer: The Arsenio Hall Show

She appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on the 7th of June 1995.
She was on "The View" on February 13th, 2007. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on February 2nd and the 6th and 7th of November 2006 was another stop. She even went on the short lived "The Tony Danza Show" in 2005. But one of my favorite interviews was with Ellen DeGeneres on her show on the 16th of September 2004.

Anita never went on "The Arsenio Hall Show" during its run from 1989 to 1994.