Angela Bofill

Angela Tomasa Bofill (May 2, 1954 – June 13, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter and composer. A New York native, she began her professional career in the mid-1970s and is most known for singles such as "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", "Angel of the Night", and "I Try". Her career spanned over four decades.

Early life and education Angela Tomasa Bofill was born on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn area of New York City to a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother. Raised in The Bronx, Bofill grew up listening to Latin music and was also inspired by American performers. During Bofill's childhood, her weekends were taken up studying classical music and singing in New York City's All City Chorus, which featured the best singers from all of the high schools in the five boroughs. She attended Hunter College High School, graduating in 1972. Bofill later studied at the Manhattan School of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in 1976.

Career Bofill began her professional career, singing during her teenage years. Bofill performed with Ricardo Marrero & the Group and Dance Theater of Harlem chorus before being introduced to Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen of the jazz label GRP Records by Dave Valentin, her friend and jazz flautist. Grusin and Rosen signed Bofill and produced her first album, Angie, in 1978. Angie was well received both critically and commercially and included the chart single "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" (co-written by Gwen Guthrie and Haras Fyre), and Bofill's sprawling jazz composition, "Under the Moon and Over the Sky". Less than a year later, a second album, Angel of the Night was released and outperformed its predecessor. The album included the chart singles "What I Wouldn't Do (For the Love of You)" and the up-tempo title track, as well as the song "I Try", written by Bofill and covered by Will Downing in 1991. The reception of these albums positioned Bofill as one of the first Latina singers to find success in the R&B and jazz markets.

Bofill performed a sold-out concert at Avery Fisher Hall as part of the Newport Jazz Festival on June 20, 1980. Her musical director was Onaje Allen Gumbs, keyboards, Sammy Figueroa, percussion, a 9-piece band and guests including Steve Khan, guitar, Eddie Daniels, tenor sax and flute, and a 24-voice choir.

Clive Davis, the head of Arista Records, showed interest in Bofill. Arista had a distribution deal with GRP. Bofill switched labels for her next album, Something About You (1981). Produced by Narada Michael Walden, the album was an attempt to move Bofill into mainstream R&B and pop music. It didn't perform as well as previous releases, despite the singles "Holdin' Out for Love" and the title track, which both reached the R&B Top 40. The following year, Bofill and Walden reunited for Too Tough. The title song reached No. 5 on the R&B chart and spent four weeks at No. 2 on the Dance chart. A follow-up single, "Tonight I Give In", reached the Top 20.

Personal life Bofill was married to farmer Richard Vincent from 1984 until 1994 and together they have a daughter named Shauna, born in November 1984.

Health problems and death Bofill suffered a stroke on January 10, 2006, and was paralyzed on her left side. She convalesced at Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa, California, and was released from intensive care on January 15, requiring speech and physical therapy. Bofill lacked health insurance, and a benefit concert was organized to pay her hospital bills.

The show was planned by Rich Engel, her manager, and the New York radio stations Kiss FM and WFAN-FM. It took place on March 11, 2006, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. Similar events followed, and other aid was sought from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Her album Live from Manila (recorded in September 2004) was released during this time. Bofill suffered a second stroke in July 2007, which required therapy and left both her speech and mobility impaired.

She died on June 13, 2024, at the age of 70 at her daughter's home in Vallejo, California. Bofill's funeral mass was held on June 28, 2024 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Benicia, California.

Discography Studio albums Year Album Chart positions Record label US USR&B 1978 Angie 47 20 5 69 GRP/Arista 1979 Angel of the Night 34 10 2 — 1981 Something About You 61 13 4 — Arista 1983 Too Tough 40 6 — — Teaser 81 20 21 — 1984 Let Me Be the One — 39 — — 1985 Tell Me Tomorrow — 53 — — 1988 Intuition — 38 — — Capitol 1993 I Wanna Love Somebody — 51 — — Jive 1996 Love in Slow Motion — — — — Shanachie "—" denotes the album failed to chart

Live albums Year Album Chart positions Record label US USR&B 2006 Live from Manila — — Black Angel "—" denotes the album failed to chart

Compilation albums Year Album Chart positions Record label US USR&B 1986 The Best of Angela Bofill — — Arista 1991 The Best of Angie: Next Time I'll Be Sweeter — — 1999 The Definitive Collection — — 2003 Platinum & Gold Collection — — 2004 The Best of Angela Bofill — — BMG 2014 The Essential Angela Bofill — — RCA, Sony Legacy "—" denotes the album failed to chart

Singles Year Single Chart positions Album US 1979 "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" 104 23 39 — — Angie "What I Wouldn't Do (For the Love of You)" — 18 — — — Angel of the Night 1980 "Angel of the Night" — 67 — — — 1981 "Something About You" — 21 — — — Something About You 1982 "Holdin' Out for Love" — 26 — — 32 "Break It to Me Gently" — — — — — 1983 "Too Tough" — 5 — 2 — Too Tough "Tonight I Give In" — 12 — — — "I'm on Your Side" — 20 — — — Teaser 1984 "Special Delivery" — 65 — 34 — "Can't Slow Down" — 59 — 15 — Let Me Be the One 1985 "Let Me Be the One" — 84 — — — "Who Knows You Better" — — — — — "Tell Me Tomorrow" — 72 — — — Tell Me Tomorrow 1986 "I Don't Wanna Come Down (From Love)" — — — — — "Still in Love" — — — — — 1988 "I Just Wanna Stop" — 11 — — — Intuition 1989 "Love Is in Your Eyes" — — — — — 1992 "Love Was Never" (with Marion Meadows & Gene Rice) — 70 — — — Keep It Right There 1993 "I Wanna Love Somebody" — — — — — I Wanna Love Somebody "Heavenly Love" — — — — — "—" denotes the single failed to chart

Awards American Music Awards: 1984 – Best R&B/Soul Female Artist (nominated) Bay Area Music Awards (Bammies): 1984 Outstanding Black Contemporary Artist/Group

Other media appearances Friends in Love, 1983 Philippine film where she sang "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" with Sharon Cuneta. They had a reunion duet and sang the same hit song in 2000, while Bofill was promoting another Manila concert. Soul Train, Saturday May 28, 1983 The Pat Sajak Show, January 26, 1989