Angela Bofill
Angela Tomasa Bofill (May 2, 1954 – June 13, 2024) was a pioneering American R&B and jazz singer-songwriter known for her powerful, silky vocal range and Afro-Latina heritage.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in The Bronx, she was of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. She began singing professionally as a teenager with the Dance Theater of Harlem Chorus. She graduated from Hunter College High School (1972) and earned a Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music (1976).
In 1978 she signed to GRP Records and released her debut album Angie, featuring the hit "This Time I'll Be Sweeter". Her follow-up, Angel of the Night (1979), included her signature ballad "I Try".
Under Arista Records, she worked with producers like Narada Michael Walden and George Duke, scoring hits like "Too Tough" (1983) and "I'm on Your Side". She recorded with Capitol Records in 1988 for the album Intuition and provided backing vocals for artists such as Diana Ross.
Her singing career was largely cut short by two massive strokes in 2006 and 2007, which paralyzed her left side and impaired her ability to sing and speak. Despite her inability to sing, she returned to the stage for a spoken-word show where she recounted her life while friends like Maysa Leak and Melba Moore performed her hits.
She was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023 and received a Bay Area Music Award. She died on June 13, 2024, at age 70, leaving behind a rich legacy as a trailblazing Latina artist in R&B and jazz.
Angie
Written-By – Angela Bofill 5:43
A2 This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Written-By – Gwen Guthrie, Pat Grant 4:18
A3 Baby, I Need Your Love
Written-By – Angela Bofill 4:12
A4 Rough Times
Written-By – Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford 4:36
B1 The Only Thing I Would Wish For
Written-By – Angela Bofill 4:22
B2 Summer Days
Written-By – Timothy 5:10
B3 Share Your Love
Written-By – Derrik Hoitsma 5:12
B4 Children Of The World United
Written-By – Angela Bofill 5:48
Label: Arista GRP – GRP 5000
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul, Jazz
Style: Smooth Jazz, Soul, Ballad, Disco
Angela Bofill's 1978 debut album, Angie, is a sophisticated blend of jazz, soul, Latin, and smooth R&B, featuring her distinctive, powerful vocals and stellar musicianship from jazz legends like Dave Grusin, Steve Gadd, and Eric Gale. It marked the arrival of a unique artist, incorporating jazz fusion and heartfelt ballads like "This Time I'll Be Sweeter," establishing her as a significant voice in urban contemporary music and earning acclaim on jazz and R&B charts.
Produced by GRP Records founders Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, who assembled an elite session band, it showcases Bofill's distinctive, powerful, and melodic voice, with arrangements featuring jazz-fusion elements and heartfelt ballads.
Includes the charting R&B hit "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" and tracks like "Share Your World" and "Children Of The World United".
While some find the production "cheesy" or dated by today's standards, others praise its clarity and the rich sound stage, especially on remastered versions, noting the beautiful instrumentation like the flute.
It announced Bofill as a unique talent, bridging jazz and urban contemporary audiences with her Latin-infused soul, making her a pioneering Latina artist in these genres.
Angie is considered a cornerstone album in smooth R&B/jazz, a fantastic showcase for Angela Bofill's unique talent, and a soulful listen that remains highly recommended by fans.