Angela Lisa Winbush born 18 Jan 1955 in St. Louis, MO is 68
today. She was part of duo René & Angela with René Moore between 1979-86
before going solo.
She studied architecture at Howard University in
Washington D.C. singing to supplement her income and sang with a group
called Hot Tea whilst at university which included Tawatha Agee who
became a member of Mtume and sang lead on Mtume's hit single "Juicy
Fruit". Agee also providing backing vocals for many other artists
including Stephanie Mills, Melba Moore, Luther, Teddy P, Al Jarreau
and Michael Wycoff.
In 1977, whilst still at university, she met Richard Smallwood and
become one of the original Richard Smallwood Singers. Angela recorded
a demo which she hawked around various labels without interest but
through a friend who knew New York DJ Gary Byrd (who had a hit with "The Crown" on Motown) she got a place in
Stevie Wonder's backing group Wonderlove in L.A. Whilst
in L.A., through a member of Wonderlove, she met René Moore (brother of
Rufus' guitarist Bobby Watson) at a rehearsal session and later became duo René & Angela and went
on to released four albums together between 1980-85 ("René & Angela" (1980), "Wall to Wall" (1982), "Rise" (1983) on Capitol and finally "Street Called Desire" (1985) on Mercury. The first three albums resulted in two top 20
R&B hit singles.
In 1982 they were asked to write for, a then aspiring,
Janet Jackson's debut album which resulted in Jackson's first top 10 R&B hit
"Young Love" in Sep 1982. They also wrote for other artists including Rufus
& Chaka Khan, Stephanie Mills, Odyssey and, believe it or not,
Lamont Dozier. Mills had a #1 hit with one of their songs "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love". Winbush wrote the song whist still at university and it was
recorded by Alton McClain & Destiny as "Power Of Love" on their
debut, self-titled, album in 1978 (Alton McClain appeared recently In
the UK at Luxury Soul Weekender 6-8 Jan).
The duo's real breakthrough came from their last album, "Street Called Desire", which produced four R&B Top 5 singles, two #1 "Save Your Love For #1" and "Your Smile", #2 "You Don't Have To Cry" and #4 "I'll Be Good" (which was well received in the UK reaching #22 on the UK pop
chart)). A further track "No How - No Way" reached #29 R&B.
However, owing to their success, there was 'trouble at mill' and the
duo split up in 1986 over songwriting credits as Winbush wrote most of
the material and felt pressured to put Moore's name on credits, they
went to court over it.
Winbush met Ronald Isley who invited her to work on the Isley's next
project which was to be the album "Smooth Sailin'". Isley then
produced her debut solo album "Sharp" from which she had a #1 R&B hit with "Angel".
Between 1987 and 1996 she released three solo albums "Sharp" (1987), "The Real Thing" (1989) and "Angela Winbush" (1994)) and had eleven R&B singles chart entries, five of which
were Top 10 which, including her hits as a member of René & Angela, gave her nine
R&B Top 10 hits. She never emulated "Angel" but came close with
"It's The Real Thing" in 1989 reaching #2 and despite "Angel" topping the R&B chart
it didn't crossover to the Hot 100 pop chart.
As well as her own recording career, Winbush wrote, arranged and
produced for other artists including on The Isley's next album "Spend
The Night" and the following three "Tracks If My Life" (1989),
"Mission To Please" (1996) and "Eternal" (2001), Lalah Hathaway who
was just starting out, Sheena Easton, Detroit trio Body as well as
more songs for Stephanie Mills.
She also did background vocals on many artists recordings both before
and during her own recording career. Artists include Freda Payne
(Stares And Whispers), Helen Reddy, David Oliver (on his wonderful
Magic Mind album and Rain Fire), Blair (Nightlife), Lenny Williams
(Spark Of Love), Donald Byrd (Thank You … For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My
Life)), Wayne Henderson, Lamont Dozier, Les McCann, Stevie Wonder,
Ramsey Lewis, Narada Michael Walden, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Bobby
Womack, as well as many of the artist already mentioned (i.e.
Stephanie Mills, Lalah Hathaway, The Isleys), the list goes on.
She and Ronald Isley married in 1993 and divorced in 2002. In 2003
Winbush was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer for which she had
successful treatment and is now in remission.
The first half of the playlist below selects her best solo tracks with the remainder being the best of Rene & Angela. She really excels on the deep soulful ballads.
Album Discography
René & Angela
1980 - René & Angela
1981 - Wall to Wall
1983 - Rise
1985 - Street Called Desire
Angela Winbush
1987 - Sharp
1989 - The Real Thing
1994 - Angela Winbush
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