Helen Baylor is a gospel singer and songwriter known for her associated acts with Maurette Brown Clark, Marvin Snoop, Cece Winans, and many others. Helen struggled with drugs and threaded both the path of the gospel and secular music. In the 90s, she decided to base her music in the gospel category.
She has spent over five decades as a singer and is an inspiration to many of her followers. Despite a long career, there are so many interesting things about her you didn’t know.
Who Is Helen Baylor?
Helen LaRue Lowe is her birth name and she was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 8, 1954. She is the eldest of seven siblings made up of five brothers and a sister. Her father served in the Army and the family moved according to his posting. Currently, she is 71 years old
She moved to Los Angeles at the age of seven when her dad’s work took him there. Her professional music career began at the age of twelve. Her parents convinced a nightclub owner to allow her to sing with the band.
Helen had her first child at the age of 16.
12 Interesting Facts About Her You Should Know
1.She Started Singing As A Nightclub Act
After her family moved to Los Angeles, Helen Baylor performed at nightclubs. Her music career at this stage was not defined but she kept improving herself.
2.Helen Baylor Has Opened For Aretha Franklin
In her teenage years, Helen opened for top artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and B.B. King. In these evolving years, she auditioned for the Broadway musical Hair. She landed a part in the Hair musical at the age of 17.
Hair reflected the hippie counter culture of the 1960s. And the sexual revolution in America. The musical generated a lot of controversy and outcry due to the use of illegal drugs and nudity.
3.Helen Lowe And The Side Effect
Her soulful singing did not go unnoticed. She joined the R&B group Side Effects in 1976 and was part of their second album, What You need.
Helen replaced the lead vocalist, Silvia Nabor. The group’s single, keep That same Old Feeling from their second album became very popular.
See Also: Where In God’s Name Is Danny Rivera? 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Him
4.Her Early Songs Were Under The Soultown Record Label
In the late 60s, Helen Baylor worked with Bobby Sanders on her singles, The Richest Girl and What About Me Boy. They were released by Soultown label and Helen was Little Helen.
5.She Struggled With Drugs
Helen began to abuse drugs like marijuana and other painkillers. She attributed her participation in Hair as the beginning of her drug problems. Drug abuse almost ruined her career before it took off but she used it to turn her story around.
The 80s was a trying period for her, but she also became sober towards the end of the decade and refocused her music.
See Also: Polkadot Stingray- A closer look at the Japanese Rock Band- Members, Discog and Other Facts
6.Her Gospel Career Began In The 90s
A turning point in her music career was when she decided to stop using drugs. She became a committed Christian and changed the direction of her music.
She began singing gospel music in the 90s. Her materials were from her personal experience.
7.Helen 5 Gospel Albums Were Hits
The new direction Helen’s music took had great success. She recorded five gospel albums. The Live Experience in 1994 been the most successful. The album reached #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart.
Her first album, Highly Recommended in 1990 was under the Word Records. She has also recorded with Expansion Records with the song, Oasis. Other records she worked with are Sony Records, Verity, and Diadem Record.
8.Induction Into The Hall Of Fame And Awards
She won an award in the Contemporary Gospel Recorded Album category in 1993. She won with the song Sold Out in the Start All Over Album. Within the same year, she got ordained into Christian ministry.
She won the award for Soul Train Lady in 1995 for the Live Experience. Helen had four Grammy nominations. She was honored with an honorary doctorate by Friends International Christian University.
Helen Baylor’s music contribution is not in doubt. Her induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame was in 2000.
See Also: Intricate Details About Craig Mabbitt’s Bio, Wife and Kids, Net Worth and 5 Facts about Him
9.She Wrote An Autobiography And Co-Produced A Feature Film
Helen Baylor’s autobiography will form part of her proposed feature film. The feature film she will co-produce is a reflection of her life story. The materials will be from part of her 1995 song Helens Testimony.
She published No Greater Love: The Helen Baylor story in 2007.
In 2011, she approached Cassandra Hollis to coproduce the Film. A Praying Grandmother: The Helen Baylor story. It is not known if the film ever got produced or its credits.
10.Why Did Helen Baylor Marry A Drug Dealer
In 1979, she met and started dating James Baylor who was a drug dealer and lighting director. The period coincided with her going on tour with Chaka Khan, the queen of funk.
They moved in together with James Baylor and the relationship waxed stronger. In February 1982, they tied the nuptial knot.
11.They Got Separated With Her Husband
After years of marriage, fractures started appearing in their marriage walls. They first thought of separating in 2000 but did not proceed with it because they reconciled.
Yet, in 2012, their differences became glaring and they finally separated.
12.How Did Helen Baylor Make Her Net Worth Of $13 Million
She made her net worth from a long music career. She makes an income from the sales of albums and her writings.
Where Is Helen Baylor Currently
Helen Baylor’s music career is an inspiration to many. Over a period of close to five decades, she has released 7 gospel albums. In 2002, she released My Everything under the Diadem records. She is still an influential person in gospel music.
News of separation from her husband marked the headlines in 2012. Currently, she is alive and went on pilgrimage to Israel in 2018.
