I always like to hear about folks from my hometown and school doing well. She had one of the most recognizable voices ever in soul music. I used to make the distinction between singers and song stylists. Luther, for example, would be a singer whereas Steve Arrington and Aaron Hall would be stylists; men who could make a song sound great without benefit of either a strong or smooth voice. Anita Baker was both. She had a fantastic voice and she used it like an instrument. She also had a strong will and as we know from history, women who control their own careers have a tough row to hoe. But at the end of the day, I'd rather go out knowing that I did things the way I wanted instead of the way somebody told me. God bless that sister, I hope she enjoys her retirement.