Soul Strutter: Angela Winbush

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.