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Anita was born on January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She started singing in the church choir at age 12 and, by 16, performed with a local group alongside high school friends. In 1975, after being approached by bass player David Washington, she successfully auditioned for the group Chapter 8. She spent the following years performing around Detroit, eventually signing with Ariola and releasing an album in 1979. However, when Ariola was acquired by Arista, the group's contract was not renewed.
Returning to Detroit, Anita took a job as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1981, Otis Smith, the man behind Chapter 8's contract, founded the Beverly Glenn label. He reached out to her in 1982 with an offer, which she initially declined. After Smith increased the offer and the contract was legally approved, she accepted and released the album "Songstress" in 1983. By 1986, she had signed with Elektra and served as executive producer on her debut album for the label, "Rapture," which sold over 6 million copies worldwide. She won two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Female Performance for "Rapture" and Best R&B Song for "Sweet Love."
In 1987, Anita began working on her follow-up album, "Giving You The Best That I Got," while maintaining a busy performance schedule. This album earned her three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Female Performance in 1989, and Best R&B Song in 1990 for both "Giving You The Best That I Got" and "Just Because." For her third album, "Compositions," she took a more active role in songwriting, contributing seven self-penned songs and exploring jazz influences. Most of the album was recorded live, earning her a seventh Grammy for Best R&B Female Performance.
On Christmas Eve 1988, Anita married Walter Bridgforth, Jr., whom she had met two years earlier in Detroit. In January 1993, she gave birth to their son, Walter Baker Bridgforth. Five months later, she began work on her next album, "Rhythm of Love," producing most of it herself. Due to pregnancy, much of the recording took place at her home, and she wrote five of the twelve songs. Released in September 1994, shortly after the birth of her second son, Edward Carlton Bridgforth, the album garnered her an eighth Grammy Award in 1995 for Best R&B Song with "I Apologize."
Tragically, Anita's parents passed away within two years of each other—her mother in 1996 and her father in 1998. During this period, she attempted to record a new album, but the tracks were damaged during recording and could not be recovered. She sued Elektra, winning the case, and subsequently signed with Atlantic Records.
Throughout her career, Anita has collaborated with artists such as The Winans, Howard Hewitt, and James Ingram. Since December 2002, she has resumed touring on a limited basis.
