Air Week: October 21-27, 2019

LaVern Baker, Pt. 2: 1954-56

This week, the “Juke In The Back” looks at how one of R&B’s greatest voices, LaVern Baker, got her start. It’s part two of a two part feature on the early career of LaVern Baker. In part two, we’ll dig on Baker’s prime recording years of 1954-56. She had 4 charting records in ’55, beginning with the crossover smash, “Tweedlee Dee,” which stayed popular for over a year, hitting #4 R&B and crossing over to #14 Pop. In 1956, she scored 5 charters, ending the year with the release of the #1 classic, “Jim Dandy.” She also headlinned the Apollo and was featured in the Alan Freed film, “Rock! Rock! Rock!” starring Tuesday Weld. LaVern Baker’s career began in Rhythm & Blues, but she ended up becoming one of Rock n’ Roll’s first female superstars. Matt The Cat spins all of her records from the end of 1954 to the end of 1956, her most popular period on this week’s “Juke In The Back.” 

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