 Born Betty Jane Phillips in Birmingham, Alabama, Baker was Miss Alabama in 1944 as Betty Jane Rase, and was 4th runner-up in the 1944 Miss America Pageant.From the 1940s, Baker sang in big bands and on the radio, and in the 1960s, she appeared in several television shows, including the variety shows of Dean Martin and Judy Garland.She backed Elvis Presley in his recording of "Can't Help Falling in Love", Lloyd Price in "Stagger Lee", Sam Cooke in "You Send Me", Bobby Darin in "Dream Lover", Frank Sinatra in "That's Life", Jackie Wilson in "Baby Workout", The Righteous Brothers in "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and Nancy Sinatra on her 1969 album "Nancy".