WATCH HERE: Anita Baker Performs “Lately”

Songwriter, performer, producer and R&B icon Anita Baker will perform her hit single “Lately” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at 11:35 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, marking the single’s television debut.

“Lately” was recently nominated for “Best Traditional R&B Performance,” the 16th such Grammy Award nomination of her career. Baker, 55, who was raised in Detroit, has won eight previous Grammys.

“Lately” is from Baker’s forthcoming album, “Only Forever,” due out 2013. The much-anticipated album will be her first in eight years, and the single “Lately” instantly became the biggest release of her career, debuting at No. 10 on Billboard’s Urban AC Chart – the highest single debut of anyone in 15 years.

The success of “Lately,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart and sat atop the Jazz chart for five consecutive weeks, also put Baker in the record books. With her latest No. 1, she surpassed Whitney Houston for the longest span of number-one hits. Houston’s record was 14 years; beginning with Baker’s first No. 1, 1994’s “Body & Soul” to 2005’s “How Does It Feel?” and up to “Lately,” she sets the new mark of 18 chart-topping years.

“Lately” was released digitally on August 7, 2012, and was produced by The Underdogs and executive-produced by Anita Baker and Don Was. Currently touring in support of “Only Forever,” Baker performed at Radio City Music Hall and sold out four shows in five days in late August, including the famed Hollywood Bowl.

Baker is an eight-time Grammy winner, with four platinum and two gold albums to her name. She shot to fame with her classic album Rapture, and experienced critical and commercial success with subsequent albums “Giving You the Best I Got,” “Compositions,” “Rhythm of Love” and “My Everything.” She has also released a successful greatest hits (“The Best of Anita Baker”), holiday (“Christmas Fantasy”), and live album (“A Night of Rapture: Live”).

Baker will look to garner her ninth Grammy Award with “Lately,” which is nominated for “Best Traditional R&B Performance.” She has won eight Grammy awards previously.

“Lately” is from Baker’s forthcoming album, Only Forever, due out 2013. The much-anticipated album will be her first in eight years, and the single “Lately” instantly became the biggest release of her career, debuting at #10 on Billboard’s Urban AC Chart – the highest single debut of anyone in 15 years.

The success of “Lately,” which recently hit #1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart and sat atop the Jazz chart for five consecutive weeks, also put Baker in the record books. With her latest #1, she surpassed Whitney Houston for the longest span of number-one hits. Houston’s record was 14 years; beginning with Baker’s first #1, 1994’s “Body & Soul” to 2005’s “How Does It Feel?” and up to “Lately,” she sets the new mark of 18 chart-topping years.

“Lately” was released digitally on August 7, 2012, and was produced by The Underdogs and executive-produced by Anita Baker and Don Was. Currently touring in support of Only Forever, Baker performed at Radio City Music Hall and sold out four shows in five days in late August, including the famed Hollywood Bowl.

Baker is an eight-time Grammy winner, with four platinum and two gold albums to her name. She shot to fame with her classic album Rapture, and experienced critical and commercial success with subsequent albums Giving You the Best I Got, Compositions, Rhythm of Love, and My Everything. She has also released a successful greatest hits (The Best of Anita Baker), holiday (Christmas Fantasy), and live album (A Night of Rapture: Live).

For more information, tour dates, and updates please visit and/or follow Anita Baker at:

www.AnitaBaker.com
www.twitter.com/IAMANITABAKER
www.Facebook.com/AnitaBakerMusic

Soul/R&B veteran Anita Baker has been nominated for the sixteenth time for the upcoming 55th Grammy Awards under the category of Best Traditional R&B Performance. Already a winner of eight Grammys, Baker’s illustrious rendition of  “Lately” will battle Beyonce (Love On Top), Melanie Fiona (Wrong Side Of A Love Song), Gregory Porter (Real Good Hands) and SWV (If Only You Knew) for a potential ninth trophy.

“It’s shocking,” Baker told Singersroom about her latest Grammy nomination. “ I had no expectation. It’s shockingly beautiful at this point in my career. It’s a dichotomy of emotions; crazy lovely…It’s saying you did Ok so stay in the lane.”

She continues: “To be nominated with my sister Beyonce and Ms. Fiona (who she calls little Melanie), and the other artsts nominated, I’ve already won. However it pans out I’m happy.”

Baker insists she never aims for awards when she creates music and her forthcoming album is no different.

“I sing from inspiration, inspiration directs me,” she adds. “I’ve never been bold enough to try to say I’m going to create a song that’s going to be worthy of a Grammy or any accolades for that matter. To receive 17 nominations over 30 years is crazy, but it encourages me to stay true to my inspiration. That’s always been my starting point.”

She adds: “That single [Lately], I cut that song four times before you ended up with what you hear now. As a result of this nomination we’re going to give fans an additional remix

Anita Baker has stood the test of time and has maintained an integrity that is represented in her sound, work ethic and image. Her model stands as a testament to what individuality and expression creates and her sound is still as original as when she came on the scene in 1975 as a member of Chapter 8. With classic solo albums like ‘The Songstress’, ‘Rapture’ and ‘Giving The Best That I Got’, it’s clear that everyone from established artists to new fans should pay attention to the jewels she continues to share in her career.

The 55th Grammy Awards will be held at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10, 2013. CBS will televise the ceremony.

Congratulations Anita Baker.

“LATELY”

HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY IN THE CATEGORY OF

‘BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE’

THE 55TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS AIR FEBRUARY 10TH AT 8PM ON CBS

Posted Sep 5th by Georgette Cline

The new generation of R&B singers have a fan in Anita Baker. The veteran entertainer, who will release her upcoming album, Only Forever, next month, finds Ledisi, Marsha Ambrosius, Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway among the younger artists she fancies.

One crooner the 54-year-old “Sweet Love” songstress feels is “gifted beyond measure” is Chris Brown. “He’s an amazing talent,” she tells The BoomBox. “That’s all I could take from him because that’s all I’m entitled to, is his artistry. I take it and I embrace it.”

Baker applauds the Fortune creator’s ability to succeed professionally while dealing with personal trials and tribulations under public scrutiny.

“I also embrace his, whatever it is that has allowed these young ones to endure what they endure publicly, and to still be able to present themselves to us,” she admits. “Historically, in my generation, all of my heroes and heroines have had issues and problems. We all do. Chris Brown is brilliant. That cat is crazy brilliant and I wish him the best.”

Twenty nine years ago, when Baker debuted her first album, The Songstress, in 1983, camera-wielding paparazzi and gossip blogs weren’t prevalent, giving pop stars and the like more privacy when dealing with their own personal demons. But the Detroit-raised singer says the big difference she finds between then and now is the constant struggle to protect her livelihood.

“Time has nothing to do with the gifts that the gods give you; it’s what you do,” she states. “I think what is challenging right now and what I’ve come into, is the ability with this push-button and digital and ‘edit this’ and ‘touch that’ [era], I’ve had to protect live vocals that I do from producers and people.

“They want to take it into the realm of Pro Tools and go, ‘Oh, I’m gonna slice this bar measure… slice your vocal and edit it,’ and it’s like, ‘No darling. I sang this. This is from my heart and this is my performance.’”

She feels this trumps other challenges artists may face. “That’s the thing that an artist has to protect,” Baker continues. “Their right to give their perspective to you without 13 people putting their hands on it and editing it. I’m always just trying to sing a song. All the time!”

With seven albums in her catalog and one on the way, the eight-time Grammy Award-winning chanteuse has kept that mindset from the start. A passion to express herself through song lead her not to seek stardom but to share her voice wherever she could, including a home for the deceased.

“People just stand around going, ‘I wanna, I wanna,’ when what you really mean, a lot of times is, ‘I wanna be a star,’” Baker explains. “But if you wanna sing, go sing! I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn’t have a vocalist. I didn’t get paid. I needed to sing.

“What the angels do, when they see you doing what they’ve sprinkled on you, they help you. They may not give you money all the time, but you know, I never sought anything a day in my life. All I ever did is sing. Somebody was there [saying], ‘You want another gig? There’s this band.’ [And I'd say], ‘I’ll be there. What time? Where?’ It wasn’t easy; I had to have another job. So the challenge is relative to what you want.”

For Anita Baker, that’s the reward.

Only Forever, her forthcoming LP featuring the single “Lately”

WATCH VIDEO

Producer, performer, songwriter, and music legend Anita Baker is back with a new album, new tour, and only The Insider’s Kevin Frazier was with the R&B icon as she prepared for her performance at The Hollywood Bowl last week.

After a much needed break, Anita is getting ready to release her seventh studio album Only Forever on October 23 through Blue Note Records/EMI. Anita shot to fame with her 1986 classic album Rapture and experienced critical and commercial success with her albums Giving You the Best I Got, Rhythm of Love, and more. Fans will be happy to hear her famous romantic style again, but with a modern twist. The eight-time Grammy winner self produced the album and is already making history with her new single Lately. Baker was the first recording artist ever to have an unprecedented premiere on Urban Adult Contemporary Radio for all Clear Channel stations as they played her single every hour on the hour. It was the biggest debut single in her career since her 1994 hit Body & Soul.

To hear more on the new album, the love for her fans, and what Anita did on her break watch our Insider.com interview.

For more information, tour dates, and updates please visit and/or follow Anita Baker on Twitter or click here!

AUGUST 27, 2012 BY: VALANTE GRANT

Anita Baker performed to a sold out crowd at the Ravinia Festival on Saturday night. Adoring fans sang along as she belted out classic love ballads. Her voice was strong and sultry. Ms. Baker was moved to tears when literally thousands of people joined in, singing one of her most popular songs, Angel. During the concert, fans presented her with flowers and gifts. She was very gracious and appreciative of the love and support.

One of the best things about Ravinia performances is live bands instead of tracks. Ms. Baker expressed her gratitude for singing with live musicians and background singers. She gave each of the background singers and musicians a solo spot during the set. Barry Eastman, renowned pianist and producer, served as music director.

Ms. Baker’s stage presence was stellar, yet genuine. She came across as an artist, doing what she loves and having a wonderful time. She also, revealed her great sense of humor; when she sat on the edge of the stage, then couldn’t get up. Someone had to come on stage to get her. She burst into laughter about it as the crowd laughed with her. Anita Baker proved that she definitely has still got it. She performed the hit single, Lately; from her new album to be released in October. Lately is available on iTunes for download.

View slideshow: http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/anita-bker