She helped pave the way for rock and roll.
"A rock and roll diva with an irresistible belt and sultry R&B edge. Her fiery fusion of blues, jazz and R&B showcased her alluring vocals and set the stage for the rock and roll surge of the Fifties. A versatile vocalist, LaVern Baker proved capable of melding blues, jazz and R&B styles in a way that made possible the emergence of a new idiom: rock and roll."
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
"We can hear the soul, the spirit, and the sense of humor in her art."
Chaka Khan
In 1969, Baker became seriously ill during a trip to entertain troops in Vietnam. She spent her recovery at U.S. naval base at Subic Bay, in the Philippines and ended up running the NCO club there for 22 years.