Angela Bofill passed away
Last Thursday, Angela Bofill, the Bronx native who carved out her own place with her powerful and distinctive alto voice as an outstanding interpreter of soul ballads, passed away. Born on May 2, 1954, in The Bronx, New York, Angela grew up in a musical environment. Her Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother ensured she was exposed to a wide range of music styles, from Motown to Aretha Franklin, and from Tito Puente to Celia Cruz. Angela vividly remembered how growing up in Harlem meant always having the latest music to stay hip. Her passing was announced with a brief message on social media.
By the age of eighteen, Angela was already an accomplished singer and songwriter and had collaborated with legendary artists such as Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Nat Adderley Jr., and Dizzy Gillespie. She was a soloist with the Dance Theater of Harlem and studied theater at the University of Hartford, as well as voice at the Hartt College of Music. Angela also earned a Bachelor of Music from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where she was classically trained in opera.
Angela’s solo career began in 1978 with her debut album “Angie”. With hits like “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Under The Moon and Over the Sky”, she established her unique blend of jazz and R&B, quickly becoming one of the top vocalists in both the pop and jazz worlds. Her second album, “Angel of the Night” from 1979, featuring hits like “I Try” and the title track, cemented her status. Both albums topped the pop, jazz, and R&B charts for months.
Between 1978 and 1984, Bofill consistently enjoyed success on the R&B charts, with six albums in the Top 40 and two albums in the Top 10. Although her career cooled somewhat after 1984, she returned to the R&B charts with albums such as “Intuition” (1988), “I Wanna Love Somebody” (1993), and “Love in Slow Motion” (1996).
In 2006, Angela suffered a severe stroke, leaving her largely unable to move or speak. In 2007, she was hit by another stroke, further complicating her recovery. As Angela did not have health insurance, benefit concerts were organized to cover her medical expenses.
Although she could no longer sing, Angela returned to the stage in recent years with “The Angela Bofill Experience”. In this show, she shared her life story and career while artists like Maysa Leak, Phil Perry, and Melba Moore performed her biggest hits and signature songs.
Angela Bofill leaves behind an impressive musical legacy and will be remembered for her unique voice and contributions to soul and jazz music. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her fans and the music community.
Angela Bofill was 70 years old. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her music will continue to resonate.
