Biography of Cassietta Baker George
Cassietta Baker George was born January 23, 1929 in Memphis, TN to Pastor Peter A. Baker and Cassietta Epps Baker. At the age of four, she began singing in her father’s church located in the hills of Tennessee. In 1948, Cassietta Baker George was among the first to bring gospel music to the airwaves on WDIA Radio Station in Memphis, TN with the Songbirds of the South featuring Dorothy Murff, Elizabeth Darling and Julia Pruett.
In 1953, Cassietta moved to Chicago, IL where she caught the eye of the late Rev. James Cleveland. At his invitation, Cassietta became a member of the now world famous Caravans at that time featuring Johnerine Davis, Louise McDonald-Ross, Albertina Walker and James Cleveland. Years later, the group featured Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Josephine Howard, Shirley Caesar and Dolores Washington. As a member of The Caravans, Cassietta wrote and led over 40 songs, bursting the group into the number one most iconic gospel group of all times. Her most noted recordings in The Caravan legacy were Will My Jesus Be Waiting, Remember Me Oh Lord, Let’s Break Bread Together, One Baptism, To Whom Shall I Turn, I’m Ready to Serve the Lord, Seek Ye the Lord, Jesus and Me, My Religion, Walk Around Heaven All Day and I’m Going To Work Until My Day Is Done.
In 1965, Cassietta Baker George left The Caravans, causing it to disband in 1966, to pursue her solo career. During her solo career, Cassietta Baker George recorded 16 albums: I Must Tell Jesus, Cassietta George Sings In Stereo Walk Around Heaven, Cassietta Sings Favorite Hymns Vol. 1, Cassietta , Cassietta George The Greatest Gift, Cassietta George This Time, Cassietta George Signs, Cassietta George Put God In Your Heart, Cassietta George Live In Concert, Cassietta George This Is Your Day, Cassietta George A Legend, Cassietta George I Want To See Jesus w/ Bishop G. E. Patterson and The Voices of Bountiful Blessings, Cassietta George, Cassietta George A Legend from Legends, Cassietta George Live-48 Years of Gospel Music and Dorothy Norwood Presents Cassietta George.
Cassietta Baker George has received two Grammy Award nominations, one in 1969 and the other in 1979, the 1987 Gospel Music Workshop of America Memphis Chapter Award, 1989 Annual United Music Pioneer Award, 1995 GMC Heritage Award, 1995 WDIA Radio Station Legendary Gospel Music Pioneer Award, and 2008 12th Annual W.C. Handy Posthumous Heritage Award. Throughout her esteemed career, Cassietta Baker George has written 108 original musical compositions, a feat that no other female gospel singer has accomplished to date. On January 3, 1995, at 5AM, Cassietta Baker George put on her white robe and golden slippers and began her endless Walk Around Heaven All Day.
