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.
Angel of the Night
Written-By – Angela Bofill
5:35
A2 People Make The World Go Round
Horns, Strings, Arranged By – Ray Chew
Written-By – Linda Creed, Thomas Bell
4:30
A3 Angel Of The Night
Written-By – Bunny Hull, Jim Devlin
4:55
A4 Rainbow Child (Little Pas)
Written-By – Angela Bofill
3:42
B1 What I Wouldn't Do (For The Love Of You)
Written-By – Denise Utt, Jack Perricone
3:28
B2 The Feelin's Love
Written-By – Angela Bofill
5:03
B3 Love To Last
Written-By – John Madden
4:53
B4 The Voyage
Written-By – Angela Bofill
5:30
Label: Arista GRP – GRP 5501
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: R&B Jazz, Funk, Soul
Style: Jazz-Funk, Soul, Funk
Released in October 1979, Angel of the Night is widely regarded as a timeless musical treasure and a quintessential example of the "Quiet Storm" and jazz-fusion era. As Angela Bofill’s second studio album, it solidified her reputation as a powerhouse vocalist capable of blending jazz, soul, and disco with effortless sophistication.
Vocal Performance: Critics and listeners alike praise Bofill’s deep, rangy, and sultry voice, often comparing her versatility to legends like Minnie Riperton and Patrice Rushen.
Genre Blending: The album is noted for shifting from the pure jazz style of her debut toward a more soul-oriented sound, while maintaining a "Brazilian jazz funk" undercurrent.
Production: Produced by GRP Records heads Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, the album is lauded for its high-caliber arrangements and "night time radio" elegance.
Mixed Side Reviews: While the first half is often called "ambitious and dramatic," some reviewers feel the second half (Side B) loses a bit of that initial focus.
Standout Tracks
"I Try": Although never a single, this self-penned track became her signature song and a Quiet Storm/Smooth Jazz classic.
"People Make the World Go Round": Her cover of the Stylistics classic is frequently cited as one of the best versions ever recorded, noted for its uptempo, jazzy energy.
"Angel of the Night": The title track is a fan favorite for its disco-flavored funk and "super catchy" chorus.
"Rainbow Child": A touching piano ballad that showcases her ability to deliver traditional melodies with a solid jazz arrangement.
While the album did not achieve massive mainstream pop success, it cemented Bofill as a premier soul-jazz artist of her time, with some considering it her best work due to its blend of her innate jazz sensibilities with accessible, soulful pop. Discogs average rating of 4.56/5 based on community reviews.
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.
The Definitive Collection
Arranged By, Strings – Frank Martin
Producer – Narada Michael Walden
Written By – Allee Willis, John Lewis Parker, Robert Wright
2 Baby, I Need Your Love
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Don Grusin
Written By – Angela Bofill
3 Tell Me Tomorrow
Producer – George Duke
Written By – David Lasley, Randy Goodrum
4 What I Wouldn't Do (For The Love Of You)
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Written By – Denise Utt, Jack Perricone
5 Under The Moon And Over The Sky
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Written By – Angela Bofill
6 I'm On Your Side
Arranged By, Strings – Michael Gibbs
Written By – Angela Bofill, Jeffrey Cohen
Written By, Producer – Narada Michael Walden
7 Holdin' Out For Love
Producer – Narada Michael Walden
Written By – Cynthia Weil, Tom Snow
8 This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Written By – Gwen Guthrie, Patrick Grant
9 Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
Arranged By, Horns – Jerry Hey
Arranged By, Strings – Michael Gibbs
Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Written By – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
10 Let Me Be The One
Producer – David Frank & Mic Murphy
Written By – Alan Palanker, Angela Bofill, Rick Suchow
11 Angel Of The Night
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Written By – Bunny Hull, James Devlin
12 Tonight I Give In
Arranged By, Strings – Michael Gibbs
Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Written By – Donnie Shelton, Lana Bogan
13 Still In Love
Producer – George Duke
Written By – Derek Bramble
14 Can't Slow Down
Written By, Producer – David Frank & Mic Murphy
15 Too Tough
Arranged By, Strings – Michael Gibbs
Written By, Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
16 I Try
Producer – Larry Rosen
Producer, Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Written By – Angela Bofill
17 Time To Say Goodbye
Arranged By, Strings – michael gibbs
Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Written By – Angela Bofill
Label: Arista – 07822-19089-2
Format: CD, Compilation, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Soul, Contemporary R&B