ANGELA BOFILL (1954 - 2024)

It is sad to report the passing of Angela Bofill, the gifted jazz and r&b vocalist/songwriter, on June 13th at the age of seventy. Bofill had suffered two strokes in 2006 and 2007, leaving her mobility and speech impaired. But through extensive physical therapy, she regained some speech and movement which allowed her to participate in "The Angela Bofill Experience" in 2011, a stage show where she recounted her life and career while singers, Phil Perry and Melba Moore performed many of Bofill's beloved songs. 

The Cuban-Puerto Rican singer began her professional career after meeting Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, both musicians, producers and owners of the jazz label, GRP Records. They produced her 1978 debut, "Angie" which properly put on display her incredible vocal prowess as well as her songwriting abilities where she wrote four of the eight tracks. The single, "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" became Bofill's first hit, reaching number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot R&B chart. Her follow-up album, "Angel of the Night" became an even bigger success, reaching the top-ten on the jazz and r&b charts as well as cracking the top-forty on the pop album chart.

Bofill moved over to Clive Davis' label, Arista Records in 1981 with an agenda to help her gain more crossover appeal. She recorded a total of five studio albums over five years during her time with Arista, which featured more dance-pop and soul. While Bofill continued to achieve moderate success on the r&b chart, she was unable to become a considerable presence on the pop chart. 

After taking some time off to raise her daughter, Shauna, Bofill returned to music in 1988, releasing "Intuition" on a new label, Capitol Records and getting back to her musical roots of jazz and blues. Her final studio album was "Love in Slow Motion", released in 1996.

TAKE TWO: ANGELA BOFILL

One artist I think is underrated and certainly under appreciated is Angela Bofill. While the Brooklyn born and raised singer had several songs hit the r&b chart throughout the 1980's, Bofill never reached the heights I think she deserved.

Bofill began performing as a teenager and was selected to be a featured vocalist with the Dance Theater of Harlem. She later caught the attention of executives of GRP Records through her friendship with jazz artist, Dave Valentin. Her debut album, "Angie" was released in 1978 and was a perfect blend of jazz and soul. Thanks to the single, "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", the album was one of year's most popular jazz recordings and the 1979 follow-up, "Angel of The Night" did even better.

By this time, Clive Davis became interested and signed Bofill to his Arista label. He teamed her with producer, Narada Michael Walden and they released "Something About You" in 1981. This album was a departure for the artist as it was much more r&b/pop oriented. While the record did do well (with two r&b charting songs), the move did alienate some of her jazz fans.

With Walden back for her fourth album, "Too Tough", Bofill would have one of her biggest successes. The funky title track hit number two on the Dance chart and number five on the r&b and the beautiful ballad, "Tonight, I Give In" would become one of Bofill's signature classics.

Bofill would release three more albums on Arista but sales were disappointing. She later moved to other labels to record, with her final charting single was a remake of Gino Vannelli's song, "I Just Wanna Stop" in 1988 (reaching number eleven on the r&b chart) and Bofill's last studio album was "Love In Slow Motion", released in 1996.

Angela Bofill proved to remain a popular live act and performed in stage productions but in 2006, tragedy befell the singer. She suffered a stroke which left her partially paralyzed. A benefit concert was later organized to help pay for the uninsured Bofill's medical bills. Sadly, she suffered another stroke the following year. Bofill has worked hard to regain some speech and mobility but unfortunately she will be unable to sing again. To honor this extraordinary talent, here are two of my favorites songs by the incomparable Angela Bofill: