UB In Memoriam: Legendary Singer/Songwriter Angela Bofill

Angela Bofill died this past Thursday, June 13th, announced via her official Facebook, she was 70.

“On behalf of my dear friend Angie, I am saddened to announce her passing on the morning of June 13th. The funeral will be held at St. Dominic’s Church in Vallejo, California on June 28th at 1:00 pm.” – Rich Engel

Not only is it Black Music Month, but day one of UB’s Celebration of Women In R&B.

Angela Bofill defines both, to their core.

Angela Bofill was a natural. Her direct contact through eye and facial expressions totally involved the audience.

But all that was secondary to the range of vocal talents she displayed, from Top 40 soul to Al Jarreau-style scat songs, from emotional ballads to Latin-flavored bangers.

Her versatile songwriting deserves praise as well. She began the show with her 1978 debut with “Under the Moon and Over the Sky,” among her best jazz-tinted pieces accompanied by her mesmerizing movements. “Baby I Need Your Love,” which she also penned, showed off her vocal versatility.

Angela moved easily from Ashford and Simpson‘s “Rough Times” to the dramatic “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” and from a funky “People Make The World Go Round” to her own dream scenario, “Children Of The World.”

Born May 2nd, 1954 and raised in New York City by her Cuban father, who sang with Cuban bandleader Machito, and Puerto Rican mother, Angela and her sister were exposed to a variety of musical styles, from Aretha Franklin to Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. Angela stated: “Living in Harlem, if you didn’t have the latest James Brown and Supremes 45s, you weren’t hip. We always had Latin music playing in the house, as well as The Platters and Dinah Washington. I also listened to a lot of Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach. I was just floored by those gorgeous ballads.”

With a 3 1/2 octave range, Angela has been singing since she was 4 years old – professionally since the age of 15. During her early teens, Angela was a member of the New York’s All City Chorus. In high school she formed a group called the Puerto Rican Supremes. By the age of 18, she was an accomplished singer and songwriter, paying her way through school by performing with a local Latin band on weekends. Angela was also the featured lead soloist for the choral for the Dance Theater of Harlem, majored in theater at the Hartt School of Music and studied acting with Jean Shelton in San Francisco. She also held a Bachelor of Music from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music where she was classically trained in opera.

When she debuted in 1978 with her critically acclaimed self-titled album, Angie, the hits “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Under The Moon And Over The Sky” began the career of a young woman who’s unique blend of jazz fusion and soul established her as one of the top vocalist in both the pop and jazz world.

Angie was first introduced to Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin (GRP), by good friend and flautist Dave Valentine. GRP a newly formed label in search of new talent listened to her demo and signed her immediately. In 1979, Angela released her second album “Angel Of The Night.” With hits like, “What I Wouldn’t Do (For The Love Of You),” the title track, and two albums charting in the Top 10 for months, Angela‘s solo career was solidified.

After touring the United States and Europe for a year and a half, Angela was back in the studio. By this time Arista Records, headed by Clive Davis wanted Angela on their label and bought out her contract with GRP. Clive teamed Angela with Narada Michael Walden to produce her third album. “Something About You” released in 1981, was Angela‘s first commercial pop and R&B recording, with the title track charting at #21 and the dance hit “Holding Out For Love” at #26 on the R&B charts.

Clive paired Angela with producer Narada Michael Walden again for her fourth album “Too Tough.” Angela, ready to be more involved in the creative process, wrote, arranged and produced the entire second side of the album. The first being produced by Narada in which Angela covered “” as a duet with Boz Scaggs. The title track was the #5 R&B smash of 1983, and with the unforgettable ballad “Tonight I Give In” charting at #12, Angela was all over mainstream radio. With two songs in the Top 20, and previous chart toppers Angela had achieved international recognition, selling out tours in the United States and abroad.

By the end of 1983, Angela released “Teaser” her fifth album. Angela wrote the song “You’re A Special Part Of Me,” which she recorded as a duet with Johnny Mathis. Working with producer Narada Michael Walden again, this would be their last Arista project together, earning Angela another Top 20 single “I’m On Your Side,” and an American Music Award nomination for best female R&B artist.

Settling comfortably in her recording career, Angela decided to move to California where she met and married Ricky. “I’d gone to California a several times for work and fell in love with the Bay area. Being a raw food vegetarian, we moved to a farm and I grew my own organic vegetables,” Angela stated.

In 1984, Angela achieved the biggest accomplishment of her life, the birth of a baby girl, Shauna. Releasing her sixth album, “Let Me Be The One,” produced by The System (David Frank & Mic Murphy) in the same year, Angela took a year off from promoting and touring to be a new mother. Angela recorded “Tell Me Tomorrow” in 1985, with producer George Duke before leaving Arista.

After a three year hiatus from the recording industry Angela joined Capitol Records in 1988. “I was doing an record every year and it just got to be that I needed some ear space. I stopped to raise a family and decide which direction I wanted to move towards.”

Capitol teamed Angela with producers Norman Connors whom she had previously worked with and Vincent Brantley to record “Intuition,” a brilliant fuse of R&B, jazz and pop music.

The 90’s brought about two more solo recordings, and countless projects with other artists and musicians, including Diana Ross, Patti Austin and saxophonist Kirk Whalum who was featured on the ballad “Always A Part Of Me” from Angela‘s “I Wanna Love Somebody” album, released on Jive Records in 1993.

“Love In Slow Motion” released in 1996 on Shanachie Records was a collection of songs written by Angela and co-produced with Rex Rideout. “This record has more of my own compositions than any of my previous albums.”

Despite trends in the music industry, Angela continues to greet the world with a timeless sound, from her earlier recordings to the present.

Angela has appeared on countless television shows including “The Tonight Show,” “Good Morning America” and several PBS specials alongside Bill Cosby and Peabo Bryson to name a few. A frequent radio personality on New York City radio stations CD101.9 FM and 98.7 KISS FM, Angela co-hosted several times with mentor Isaac Hayes on his radio show for KISS FM.

Many artists who loved and respected Angela, remade some of her classics. In 1991, Will Downing scored an R&B hit with “I Try,” and Jennifer Holliday made her “I’m On Your Side” the title track for her Arista debut. “I had no idea some of my tunes were being covered,” stated Angela, “but I was very happy. It was like my songs had some longevity and those covers certainly helped me get a publishing deal.”

In 2012, she introduced “The Angela Bofill Experience,” after losing her ability to sing after a 2007 stroke. In the show, she recounted her life and career and was joined by friends Melba Moore, Maysa Leak, and Phil Perry, who performed her songs.

That same year, TV One spotlighted Angela on their hit series “Unsung.”

In 2023, Angela Bofill was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

UB Sends Our Condolences to the Family, Friends and Fans of Angela Bofill!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane With Angela Bofill!