LaVern Baker (486 views)

[kaji]

LaVern Baker (11 November 1929 - 10 March 1997)
Known As: the Queen of Rhythm and Blues
Vocal Range: E♭3-G♯5

Significant High Notes:

G♯5 ("It's So Fine", "Manana", "Substitute", "The Game of Love")
G5 ("A Little Bird Told Me So", "Bumble Bee", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", "I'm Leavin' You", "I Need You So", "I Want to Rock", "Pig Latin Blues", "Play It Fair" Let Me Belong to You version, "Think Twice", "You're Teasing Me")
F♯5 ("I Can't Turn You Loose", "I Need You So", "Love is Ending", "Please Don’t Hurt Me (I've Never Been in Love Before)")
F5 ("Back Water Blues", "Batman to the Rescue", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", "I'll Never Be Free", "I'm in a Crying Mood", "In the Upper Room", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Play It Fair" Let Me Belong to You version, "Please Don’t Hurt Me (I've Never Been in Love Before)", "Pledging My Love", "Precious Lord", "Saved", "Too Close", "Voodoo Voodoo")
E5 ("Born to Lose", "Don Juan", "Everytime I Feel the Spirit", "Loads of Love", "Make It Good", "Substitute")
E♭5 ("Good Daddy", "He's a Real Gone Guy", "Hey Memphis", "How Can You Leave a Man Like This?, "I'll Never Be Free", "I Need You So", "Journey to the Sky", "Learning to Love", "Love is Ending", "Pig Latin Blues", "Play It Fair" Let Me Belong to You version, "Pledging My Love", "Saved", "Shake a Hand", "Slow Rollin' Mama" Montreaux Jazz Festival, 1991, "So High So Low", "Somebody Touched Me", "Touch Me, Lord Jesus", "Tra La La", "You Better Stop")
D5 ("A Help-Each-Other Romance", "Ain't Gonna Cry No More", "A Little Bird Told Me So", "Back Water Blues", "Batman to the Rescue", "Bop-Ting-a-Ling", "Didn't It Rain", "Empty Bed Blues", "Everytime I Feel the Spirit", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Half of Your Love", "I Can't Hold Out Any Longer", "I'm the One to Do It", "In the Upper Room", "I Want to Rock", "Jim Dandy", "Jim Dandy Got Married", "Journey to the Sky", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Manana", "My Happiness Forever", "Of Course I Do", "One Monkey (Don't Stop the Show)", "Pledging My Love", "Precious Lord", "Rock and Roll Medley", "Romance in the Dark", "Saved", "See See Rider", "Somebody Touched Me", "St. Louis Blues" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "Substitute", "Sugar Daddy Blues", "Think Twice", "Tomorrow Night", "Too Close", "Trouble in Mind", "Trying", "Whipper Snapper", "Without a God", "Woke Up This Mornin'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1996, "Wrapped, Tied and Tangled", "You Don't Tell Me")
C♯5 ("A Help-Each-Other Romance", "Baby Don't You Do It", "Born to Lose", "Call Me Darling", "Didn't It Rain", "Empty Bed Blues", "Fool That I Am", "Get Up, Get Up (You Sleepy Head)", "Gimme a Pigfoot", "Good Daddy", "Hey Memphis", "How Can You Leave a Man Like This?, "Humpty Dumpty Heart", "If You Love Me", "I'll Never Be Free", "I'll Still Do the Same for You", "I'm in a Crying Mood", "I'm Living My Life for You", "I Need You So", "I Want to Rock", "Lots and Lots of Love", "Mine All Mine", "Miracles", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", "Nothing Like Being in Love", "On Revival Day", "Please Don’t Hurt Me (I've Never Been in Love Before)", "Rock Me Baby", "Slow Rollin' Mama", "Somebody Touched Me", "Still", "Story of My Love", "Substitute", "Take Out Some Time", "Tra La La", "Why Baby Why")
C5 ("Ain't Nobody's Business", "All the Time", "Baby", "Back Water Blues", "Batman to the Rescue", "Born to Lose", "Bumble Bee", "Carrying the Cross for My Boss", "Don Juan", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Everytime I Feel the Spirit", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Good Daddy", "Half of Your Love", "Harbor Lights", "He's a Real Gone Guy", "Hey Memphis", "How Can You Leave a Man Like This?, "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle", "I Can't Love You Enough", "I Can't Turn You Loose", "I Cried a Tear" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "I'll Never Be Free", "I'm in a Crying Mood", "I'm Leavin' You", "I'm Living My Life for You", "I'm the One to Do It", "I Need You So", "It's So Fine", "I Want a Lavender Cadillac", "I Wonder, Baby", "Jim Dandy", "Jim Dandy Got Married", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Knock on Wood", "Learning to Love", "Loads of Love", "Lots and Lots of Love", "Love is Ending", "Make It Good", "Must I Cry Again", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", "Of Course I Do", "One Monkey (Don't Stop the Show)", "On Revival Day", "Pig Latin Blues", "Play It Fair" Let Me Belong to You version, "Precious Lord", "The Game of Love", "To Love Somebody", "Precious Memories", "Senor Big and Fine", "Shake a Hand", "So High So Low", "Somebody Touched Me", "Story of My Love", "Take Out Some Time", "That Lucky Old Sun", "That's All I Need", "That's My Desire" Woke Up This Mornin' version, "Think Twice", "Tiny Tim", "Touch Me, Lord Jesus", "Trouble in Mind", "Tweedlee Dee", "Voodoo Voodoo", "Without a God", "Woke Up This Mornin'", "Wrapped, Tied and Tangled", "You Better Stop", "You Don't Tell Me", "You'll Be Crying", "You're the Boss", "You Said", "You Set My Soul on Fire", "You've Got a Friend")
B4 ("Ain't Gonna Cry No More", "All the Time", "Baby", "Call Me Darling", "Dix-a-Billy", "Eager Beaver", "Endless Love", "How Often", "I Can't Turn You Loose", "If You Love Me", "I'll Still Do the Same for You", "It's So Fine", "I Waited Too Long", "Love Me Right", "Mine All Mine", "Miracles", "No Love So True", "Nothing Like Being in Love", "Rock and Roll Medley", "Rock Me Baby", "Saved", "See See Rider", "Senor Big and Fine", "Shadow of Love", "Still", "Substitute", "The Reel's Still Runnin'", "Trouble in Mind", "Tweedlee Dee", "Whipper Snapper", "Wrapped, Tied and Tangled", "You Don't Miss Your Water", "You Don't Tell Me", "You'll Be Crying", "You're Teasing Me")
B♭4 ("After You've Gone", "Ain't Nobody's Business", "A Little Bird Told Me So", "Baby", "Baby Doll", "Baby Don't You Do It", "Back Water Blues", "Body and Soul", "Bop-Ting-a-Ling", "Bumble Bee", "Carrying the Cross for My Boss", "Didn't It Rain", "Easy Baby", "Empty Bed Blues", "Endless Love", "Eternally", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Fly Me to the Moon", "For Love of You", "Get Up, Get Up (You Sleepy Head)", "Gimme a Pigfoot", "Half of Your Love", "Harbor Lights", "Hey Memphis", "How Can You Leave a Man Like This?, "How Long", "How Long Will It Be", "Humpty Dumpty Heart", "I Can't Hold Out Any Longer", "I Can't Love You Enough", "I'll Still Do the Same for You", "I'll Never Be Free", "I'm Leavin' You", "I'm Living My Life for You", "I'm the One to Do It", "I Need You So", "I've Tried", "I Want a Lavender Cadillac", "I Want to Rock", "I Wonder, Baby", "Learning to Love", "Lost Child", "Lots and Lots of Love", "Love is Ending", "Make It Good", "Manana", "Money Blues", "Must I Cry Again", "My Happiness Forever", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", "Of Course I Do", "On Revival Day", "Pig Latin Blues", "Pledging My Love", "Preaching the Blues", "Precious Lord", "Shadow of Love", "Shake a Hand", "Slow Rollin' Mama", "So High So Low", "Somebody Touched Me", "St. Louis Blues", "Story of My Love", "Sugar Daddy Blues", "Summertime", "Take Out Some Time", "That Lucky Old Sun", "That's All I Need", "The Game of Love", "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight", "Think Twice", "Tomorrow Night", "Too Close", "Touch Me, Lord Jesus", "Tra La La", "Trying", "Tweedlee Dee", "Why Baby Why", "Why Don't You Do Right?", "Without a God", "Woke Up This Mornin'", "You Better Stop", "Young Woman's Blues", "You're the Boss", "You Said", "You Set My Soul on Fire", "You've Got a Friend")

Significant Low Notes:

B♭3 ("Baby", "Baby Doll", "Baby Don't You Do It", "Back Water Blues", "Born to Lose", "Easy Baby", "Endless Love", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Get Up, Get Up (You Sleepy Head)", "Gimme a Pigfoot", "Half of Your Love", "Harbor Lights", "How Long Will It Be", "I Can't Hold Out Any Longer", "I'll Never Be Free", "I'll Still Do the Same for You", "I'm Leavin' You", "I'm Living My Life for You", "In the Upper Room", "I've Tried", "I Want a Lavender Cadillac", "Love Me Right", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", "Of Course I Do", "On Revival Day", "Pledging My Love", "Romance in the Dark", "Shadow of Love", "Slow Rollin' Mama", "Somebody Touched Me", "Take Out Some Time", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Tiny Tim", "To Love Somebody", "Tomorrow Night", "Too Close", "Touch Me, Lord Jesus", "Tweedlee Dee", "Why Baby Why", "Why Don't You Do Right?", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Without a God", "Young Woman's Blues", "You're Teasing Me", "You Set My Soul on Fire")
A3 ("After You've Gone", "Ain't Gonna Cry No More", "All the Time", "Call Me Darling", "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes", "Eternally", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Harbor Lights", "How Often", "Humpty Dumpty Heart", "I Cried a Tear", "I'm in a Crying Mood", "I Waited Too Long", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Let Me Belong to You", "Miracles", "Misty Blue", "Nothing Like Being in Love", "Precious Lord", "Rock and Roll Medley", "Saved", "Senor Big and Fine", "That's My Desire", "Wheel of Fortune", "You'll Be Crying", "You've Got a Friend")
G♯3 ("Baby", "Born to Lose", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", "Fool That I Am", "For Love of You", "He's a Real Gone Guy", "I Can't Love You Enough", "If You Love Me", "Learning to Love", "Must I Cry Again", "My Time Will Come", "No Love So True", "See See Rider", "Shake a Hand", "Stand By Me", "Story of My Love", "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight", "To Love Somebody", "Trouble in Mind" Woke Up This Mornin' version, "Tweedlee Dee", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Woke Up This Mornin'", "You Don't Miss Your Water", "You're Teasing Me")
G3 ("All the Time", "Body and Soul", "Bumble Bee", "Call Me Darling", "Dix-a-Billy", "Half of Your Love", "Learning to Love", "Let Me Belong to You", "One Monkey (Don't Stop the Show)", "Pig Latin Blues", "Play It Fair", "St. Louis Blues", "Sugar Daddy Blues", "Summertime", "Tennessee Waltz", "That's My Desire", "Tomorrow Night", "Trying", "Tweedlee Dee" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "What a Diff'rence a Day Made", "Woke Up This Mornin'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1996)
F♯3 ("Ain't Nobody's Business", "He's a Real Gone Guy" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "Play It Fair" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version)
F3 ("Body and Soul", "For Love of You", "My Time Will Come", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" Woke Up This Mornin' version, "That's My Desire", "What a Diff'rence a Day Made", "You've Got a Friend")
E3 ("Misty Blue", "St. Louis Blues" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "Tomorrow Night" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version)
E♭3 ("Ain't Nobody's Business", "I Cried a Tear" LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 version, "Play It Fair" Pttsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1996, "Stand By Me")
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Blue marks notes sung in head voice.
Underlines marks notes found in harmonies and backing vocals.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable notes}
G♯5 ("Get Up, Get Up (You Sleepy Head)" ^[3])
F♯5 ("Harbor Lights" ^[2], "Preaching the Blues" ^[3])
C♯3 ("Woke Up This Mornin'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1996 ^[3])
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[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Discography}
LaVern (1956) - G♯3 - F5
LaVern Baker (1957) - G3 - E♭5
LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith (1958) - G♯3 - F5
Blues Ballads (1959) - G3 - G♯5
Precious Memories: LaVern Baker Sings Gospel (1959) - A3 - F5
Saved (1961) - F3 - G♯5
See See Rider (1963) - G3 - G5
Let Me Belong to You (1970) - G3 - G5
LaVern Baker Live In Hollywood '91 (1991) - E♭3 - E♭5
Woke Up This Mornin' (1992) - E3 - F♯5