Soul great Anita Baker turned her back on her career for a decade because she didn't want to be a deadbeat mum like her mother and grandmother.

The SWEET LOVE singer has just released a new album, MY EVERYTHING, and admits her semi-retirement came about because she wanted to stay at home with sons EDDIE and WALTER.

Baker, who grew up the daughter of a drug addict, says, "I just wanted to stop any hint of that cycle."

The soul singer spent her time away from the record industry raising her kids and building a recording studio at her home in Michigan.

Baker decided to make a return after the death of her earth mother LOIS LANDRY, who helped raise her when her mum left home.

She says, "I got this urge to just live."

Baker staged a low-key 2002 Christmas concert and was surprised when it sold out.

05/09/2004 21:00