Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Anita Baker has decided to retire from her iconic singing career after three decades.

Last year , she defused rumors of a final project in the works with a tweet, saying, “Lotta rumours out there. No Tour. No CD. #Retired #BeachBum #ThankUJesus along with a gift emoji and pictures of the beach."

On New Year’s Day, though, Anita Baker announced the end of her soulful love songs. Her unique, towering voice has remained an influence in contemporary soul music, mixing jazz traditions and picking up several Grammy Awards throughout her career.

The legendary singer has four No. 1 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums, including Rhythm of Love, Giving You the Best That I Got, My Everything and the platinum-selling Rapture. “Sweet Love,” “Body & Soul,” and “Just Because” reached the top five of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and in 2012, she covered Tyrese’s 1999 hit “Lately,” which debuted in the top 10 of the Urban AC chart.

Baker will hold a Farewell Concert Series, set to begin in March. Although no tour dates have been released yet, Baker is set to headline New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this spring.

Twitter felt her response was bittersweet. One user said, "We need to give Queen Anita Baker her flowers now!! She hasn’t been properly recognized for her contributions to us! And the perfect person to pay tribute is @tonibraxton cuz without Mother Baker, we may not have had a sound like Aunt Toni! #Legends."

https://www.billboard.com...ert-series

Gotta give her credit for being honest with her fans.She doesn't want them waiting around for a new album that will never happen.She's flat out saying "this is is.....I'm retiring for good".

mrwiggles said:

Man I loved the hell out of some Anita in the late 80s pulled in by the song Mystery off the Rapture album. Wore the grooves off this vinyl back then.

"Mystery" is my favorite song on that album,too written by Rod Temperton,that song was origially offered to Michael Jackson.It's an amazing song.....smooth,breezy and mesmerizing the entire 'Rapture' album is superb but that song stands out to me

She has to play a cruise ship. That is sad. Wasn't she some big star.

2freaky4church1 said:

She has to play a cruise ship. That is sad. Wasn't she some big star.

where does it say she's playing a cruise ship? in any case,a gig is a gig.She still get paid

2freaky4church1 said:

She has to play a cruise ship. That is sad. Wasn't she some big star.

I don't know why y'all music snobs on the org who have never made a living in music look down on cruise work. Have you ever been on a luxury cruise? Those things are like small cities! And for attists amking special appearances on them- they're glam, relaxing, and bring GOOD coins...and the theatres on a lot of them are larger than many landlubber venues where acts of a particular age pften play. I know regular schmegular Janes and Joes that maintain LOVELY homes and a pretty cushy lifestyle working the cruise circuit. Seems rather silly to knock it when at the end of the day, the msuic business still has the word "business" in it, meaning that it is the way people make a living. Everybody can't be the Stones playing stadiums forever; some people know how to get in where they fit in, and I'd say that's a hell of a lot better than sitting at home or on skid row being bitter about the "level" of artist that you "used to be". It's called being grown and taking care of your business.

SoulAlive said:

She knows how to let go and keep it moving. Good for her.

Anita is turning 60 this month...She chose the Age & the time.....I can't even imagine a musical landscape without her..All we can say is Thanks for the amazing Legacy...Black radio will play her Classics all day & night for a Lifetime...

Chancellor said: