Title: A Centenary Tribute
Artist: Josephine Baker
Catalogue No: SEPIA 1065
Barcode: 5055122110651
Release Date: 6 March 2006

More than 30 years after her death, Josephine Baker is remembered as a dynamic and dazzling star who remained at the top of her profession for half a century. Josephine was born in Missouri in 1906; it was an impoverished childhood and she was put out to domestic service at the age of seven. She first tasted success when she joined the touring company of the legendary all-black musical "Shuffle Along" (1921) and it's successor "Chocolate Dandies" (1924). Josephine was 19 and appearing at the Plantation Club when she was asked to perform in Paris.

Her debut in Paris was a sensation and Josephine became the toast of the city overnight. The French embraced Josephine and this love affair would last well until and beyond her death. In the French capital she starred in spectacular revues, films and later on, concerts and television. She repaid the French by recording "J'ai Deuxs Amours" (Two Loves Have I), a song telling her love for her own country and her adopted home. It became one of her greatest song successes and her re-recording in the 1950s is featured here.

As her fame grew Josephine thrilled audiences in Britain and returned to America to perform many times. She experienced many ups and downs in her private life but in 1975 she triumphed once more in a show at the Bobino theatre in Paris, a show loosely based on her life and career. Tragically, just two days after the gala opening Josephine suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died a few days later.

To celebrate the centenary of Josephine Baker this year we have released this tribute CD with 27 tracks spanning the years 1930-1953, her most prolific period of recording. We hope these songs will help to illustrate the immense versatility of her singing. Five of the numbers appear, at the time of writing, for the first time on CD.