Lavern Baker

Laverne Baker was a sexy Jump Blues belter whose sizzling style helped pave the way for rock 'n' roll in the 1950s. She had a string of R&B and Pop hits, including "I Cried a Tear" and "See See Rider." Often juggling novelty tunes with uptown orchestral and Blues Jazz albums, Baker was out of the limelight for decades. She was rediscovered in the 1990s and basked in Broadway's light with the hit show Black and Blue. She recorded again with a newfound sophistication before passing away in 1997.