LaVern Baker (November 11, 1929 - March 10, 1997) was an American Rhythm & Blues singer, originally billed as "Little Miss Sharecropper", then "Bea Baker". She got taken a given name "LaVern" by 1952, when she began recording by having Todd Rhodes and his band.

Born Delores Williams around Chicago, Illinois, in 1953, Baker signed with Atlantic Records, and immediately began releasing hits, like "Soul on Fire" & "Tweedlee Dee". Georgia Gibbs soon covered "Tweedlee Dee" with the whitewashed version of the song, & Baker unsuccessfully attempted to sue her.

Additionally to singing, Baker besides did a bit of act using Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and inside films. In the late 1960s, Baker fell ill when the hike to Vietnam to entertawithin Western soldiers, & she stayed in semi-retirement until 1988, when she performed at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th day of remembrance. She so worked on the soundtrack to Dick Tracy and appeared in Black & Blue, a Broadway musical, and released a comeback disc that sold moderately well.

Around 1991, she was inducted into a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her song "Jim Dandy" was known as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

LaVern Baker passed away witharound 1997 & was interred in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, New York.

de:LaVern Baker