Helen Baylor
Helen Baylor | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Helen LaRue Lowe |
| Also known as | Little Helen |
| Born | January 8, 1954 Tulsa,Oklahoma,U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer–songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | |
Helen LaRue Lowe(born January 8, 1954), known professionally asHelen Baylor,is an Americansinger–songwriter.
Early life
[edit]BornHelen LaRue LoweinTulsa, Oklahoma,Baylor is the oldest of seven, she has five brothers and one sister. Baylor moved toLos Angelesat age eleven as her Dad (who was in the Army) had been transferred there. While in Los Angeles, Baylor first performed as anightclubact.
Career
[edit]Baylor opened forAretha Franklin,Stevie Wonder,andB.B. Kingwhile still in her teens, and performed in themusicalHair.[1]In 1967/68 she worked with producerBobby Sandersreleasing two singles, "The Richest Girl" and "What About Me Boy", as Little Helen for the Soultown label.[2]In the 1970s she joined hit Broadway musicalHairand followed this period of her career as a session musician for artists that includedCaptain & Tennille,Les McCannandRufus.As a member ofSide Effecther vocals featured on their third albumWhat You Need,from which "Always There", a song co-written byRonnie Lawswas a R&B chart success. Later in the 1980s her career would falter as a consequence ofdrug abuse.[1]
Baylor becamesoberlate in the decade, strengthening herChristian faithand deciding to concentrate her career in gospel music. She released her first gospel recording onWord Recordsin 1990 titledHighly Recommendedand her first five albums all hit the Top Ten of the U.S.BillboardTop Gospel Albums chart, with the most successful being 1994'sThe Live Experience,which reached #1 on that chart.[3]The track "Oasis" was very successful in the UK, viaExpansion Recordsand stayed on theMusic WeekDance Chart for 14 weeks.[4]Also, the song "Sold Out" (from the albumStart All Over) won aDove Awardfor Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year at the25th GMA Dove Awardsin 1994. In July 2011, Baylor announced that she is co-producing a feature film about her life story. The film,A Praying Grandmother: The Helen Baylor Story,will feature accounts that she first shared in the song, "Helen's Testimony" (Word, 1995) and in her autobiography,No Greater Love: The Helen Baylor Story.Baylor approached award-winning filmmaker Cassandra Hollis to co-produce and direct the film. Baylor was inducted into theOklahoma Jazz Hall of Famein 2000.
Personal
[edit]In August 1970, at age sixteen, Baylor had her first child. Baylor battled with substance abuse; using marijuana and pain pills. Before going on tour withChaka Khan,Baylor began dating the lighting director James Baylor, who was also a drug dealer in 1979. Shortly thereafter, they moved in together. Baylor became a born-again Christian and quit doing drugs. In February 1982, she married Baylor. In 2000, they were contemplating separating but reconciled.[5]However, in 2012, Baylor and her husband separated.[6]
Discography
[edit]- Highly Recommended(Word Records,1990)
- Look a Little Closer(Word, 1991)
- Start All Over(Word, 1993)
- The Live Experience(Word, 1995)
- Love Brought Me Back(Sony Records,1996)
- Helen Baylor...Live(Verity Records,1999)
- My Everything(Diadem Records,2002)
- Full Circle(MCG,2006)
References
[edit]- ^abHelen BayloratAllmusic
- ^"LITTLE HELEN: Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven".www.sirshambling.com.
- ^Billboard,Allmusic.com
- ^Music Week
- ^Several years ago, Baylor and her husband of 18 years, James, were six days away from signing divorce papers when they decided to stick it out—no matter what (January 2000)
- ^"Helen Baylor shares recovery from prescription drugs and divorce".May 8, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2016.RetrievedNovember 19,2016.
Her husband of 30 years walked out two years ago. She found herself alone and addicted again.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
