Carroll Anne Baker CM (born March 4, 1949) is a Canadian country music singer and songwriter.
Carroll Baker | |
|---|---|
| Songwriter George Petralia, Carroll Baker and producer Don Grashey Songwriter George Petralia, Carroll Baker and producer Don Grashey | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carroll Anne Baker |
| Born | March 4, 1949 |
| Origin | Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | singer/songwriter |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | Gaiety Columbia Records |
Biography
Carroll Baker was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. The nearby fishing village of Port Medway, Nova Scotia displays a sign near the village entry claiming the community to be "The Home of Carroll Baker." She left Port Medway and moved to Toronto with her family when she was 16.
She was discovered by songwriter, George Petralia,[1] and promoted and produced by Don Grashey. Her first single in 1970, 'Mem-ries of Home,' written by George Petralia, for the Gaiety label (owned by Don Grashey), was a minor hit, staying on the charts for a record breaking 26 weeks. With the success of the very first recording, Grashey contacted several record companies regarding a recording contract for her and finally settled on Columbia Records.
She recorded two albums for Columbia but had only limited commercial success. Eventually she went back to Mr. Grashey's record label, Gaiety Records. She then was signed to RCA Records where she had several Gold and Platinum records. From RCA, she joined Tembo records where she was again awarded platinum record status for her record sales.
Carroll decided to quit the music business in 1973 when she became pregnant with her first and only child.
Don Grashey convinced her to take one more shot at the brass ring and off to Nashville they went to record four songs. Her first top ten record came from that session, "Ten Little Fingers", a song about a little girl, written by Don Grashey; this song remains one of her most popular songs to this day.
Awards
She received the Juno Award for Country Female Vocalist of the Year five times, including awards in 1977, 1978 and 1979. She had her own series on CBC television in the summer of 1983 and frequently appeared on Tommy Hunter's show.
She was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2009, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her achievements as a Canadian country music singer and songwriter".[2]
Baker performed at the Quyon Country JanFest on July 2, 2005 playing many of her most popular songs, including one French song.
From October 1970 through August 1982, Carroll Baker was on the country hit charts for a total of 528 weeks. 31 consecutive singles reached the charts, 20 of them reaching Top 10, with 14 of those hitting No. 1, including 12 consecutive No. 1 hits. No one in Canadian country music has been able to top that remarkable string, orchestrated by Carroll Baker with Don Grashey.
On July 1, 2009 Carroll Baker was appointed to the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada.