Bermuda Music Festival - Page 2

Baker released her major-label debut “Rapture” in 1986. It was a platinum hit and Grammy-winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in “Caught Up in the Rapture” and “Sweet Love.” Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track “Ain’t Got No Need to Worry” won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, “Giving You the Best That I Got,” appeared in 1988, and won Baker two more Grammys. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title “Compositions,” which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker’s previous work.

Following “Compositions,” Baker took a break from recording and touring. After having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft “Rhythm of Love,” which was released in 1994. In addition to touring nationally, Anita was back in the studio again this past spring and is slated to release a new eagerly awaited album early this fall. Anita Baker's new album, “My Everything” will be in stores September 7, 2004.

Gerald Albright
Beginning in the late ’80s, saxophone master Gerald Albright recorded numerous successful solo albums when he wasn’t busy assisting an impressive, and mammoth, roster of popular R&B artists. Growing up, the saxophonist idolized James Brown and took much influence from Maceo Parker and Cannonball Adderley. He first made a name for himself within the music industry during the 1980s, when he became a highly requested session musician. His revered reputation resulted in a solo contract with Altantic Records. His first album, “Just Between Us,” introduced him to the masses in 1987, and numerous albums resulted, including a best-of collection in 2001.

Albright’s fame peaked in the early ’90s, around the time he released “Live at Birdland West,” a brave album for the saxman showcasing his ability to play jazz, as well as R&B. Five years later, he released the album “Groovology,” and continued to maintain his busy schedule as a sessionman. Some of the more well-known artists he assisted during his career include Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, the Temptations, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, and many more.

Isaac Hayes [this one is mine because I rule]
Another man with Isaac Hayes' credentials - musician, singer, songwriter, producer, actor, humanitarian, radio personality - would be called a chameleon, but Hayes has always been resolutely, undeniably himself. As a sideman at Stax, then co-producer and co-writer (with David Porter) of the great Sam & Dave hits ("Hold On I'm Comin'," "Soul Man," "I Thank You," "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby") and others for Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, William Bell, Judy Clay and the Bar-Kays, Hayes helped define soul music in the '60s.

Article Author: Eric Olsen

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