Angela Winbush
Biography
Singer/songwriter/keyboardist/producer Angela Winbush's credentials include her own solo hits such as her number one R&B hit, "Angel"; hits as one-half of the singing duo Rene & Angela and their hits "Save Your Love (For #1)" and "Your Smile"; and her hits by Stephanie Mills and the Isley Brothers. One Rene & Angela hit, the 1983 ballad "My First Love," was covered by Avant on his spring 2000 debut CD, My Thoughts. Winbush's own albums are Sharp, Angela Winbush, and It's the Real Thing. Besides Rene Moore, Winbush's early collaborators were Moore's brother, Rufus, bassist Bobby Watson, engineer/producer Bruce Swedien, and George Duke.
Born in St. Louis, MO, Winbush grew up singing gospel music in the church choir and learned to play piano as a child. She had no intentions of pursuing a professional music career when she began attending Washington, D.C.'s Howard University majoring in architecture. To earn money to pay expenses, she began singing on recording sessions and formed a singing trio that opened for Van McCoy and Al Jarreau. She became interested in the music business and changed her major to music education.
Around 1977, Winbush sent a demo tape to New York DJ Gary Byrd. He played it over the phone for his friend Stevie Wonder. He called Winbush and invited her to Los Angeles. While singing in Wonder's backup band Wonderlove, Winbush learned about writing and producing by sitting in on sessions with Wonder. In 1980, she met singer/songwriter Rene Moore through Wonderlove vocalist Carolyn Dennis and they began writing songs together, eventually forming the duo Rene & Angela. In 1978, former Tower of Power lead singer Lenny Williams recorded one of their songs, "Changes." A friend introduced the duo to Dr. Cecil Hale, a Capitol Records executive who signed the duo to the label. Two LPs were issued, Wall to Wall and Rise. Another Rene & Angela song, the ballad "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," was recorded by Alton McClain and Destiny on their self-titled 1978 Polydor LP. It can be found on Polygram's Power of Love: Best of Soul Essentials Ballads. In 1985, Rene & Angela signed with Polygram and were assigned to their Mercury imprint. Their label debut, Street Called Desire, went gold, yielding the number one hits "Save Your Love (For #1)," which featured a rap by Kurtis Blow, and "Your Smile." An earlier Rene & Angela song would resurface in a big way. The first single from Stephanie Mills' 1985 Stephanie Mills album was "Stand Back"; on its flip side was her passionate cover of "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love." Because of its massive radio play as an album track, Mills' version, produced by Philly Soul keyboardist Ron Kersey, was reissued as an A-side and held the number one spot for two weeks in spring 1986.
By 1987, Winbush was solo and got her first production job on the Isley Brothers' Smooth Sailing LP after the group's lead singer, Ronald Isley, mentioned to Warner Bros. records executive Benny Medina that he wanted to work with the group who did "Your Smile." After working together, Isley became the singer's manager. Becoming romantically involved, Winbush married Ronald Isley on June 26, 1993. She produced and wrote the bulk of his solo debut, Spend the Night, credited as the Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley. Winbush's other credits include the platinum Isley Brothers album Mission to Please, Body, Lalah Hathaway, the 1982 self-titled debut of Plush, Klymaxx, Sheena Easton's The Lover in Me, and the 1993 Warner Bros. various artists set, A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

The Real Thing
1989

Sharp
1987
Surely I don't have to tell the stories of how great the memories this here song bird has produced in my life. To hear it again and any time makes a person want to start all over again. Thank you Angela. Thank you Pandora.
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On my way home from the job today and heard "Long as I live" on the FM and had to pull over to the side. Angela Winbush as long as I live I want to hear you.
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this song was sang to me by a very special man in my life that we are no longer togother but i still love this song so very much. makes me think of his sorry but::)
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I attended Angela's concert here in Nashville, TN and she was a KNOCKOUT! Sing on girlfriend!!
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Angela, Angela, where you been girl?? She represents Black women beautifully.
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Angela Winbush, you are my Angel. If I could sing like this I would never speak again.
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she has class and style she also sung at my church once as a favor for my Pastor and she has attended a few services.
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This artist has a voice in a million and I love her I'd love if she record another cd.
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That is true...I saw her in concert last year...the sister still has it. I was amazed at her vocals. She is the truth when it comes to vocals. A true power house. She is ranked up there with Ms. Patti LaBelle with the vocals.
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Artist like Angela Wimbush do not get the recognition they so deserve. You are right Kebman33 she does it all from engineering, composing, writing, lyrics, conducting, producing, etc...and even the background vocals. Now, that is a Great Singer. This is why she did not get the recognition in the music industry...w h y would she need a label when she can do it all? They could not ripe the benefits from her music, so the record companies could not make any money off Ms. Wimbush. She made ALL the mon
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i love both angela winbush and ron isley, they are classic. angela's song angel is my jam. and ron isley can do no wrong. real talent needs to make a come back.
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Every time it never fails Angela Winbush is my top number 1 female artist at all times she has not gotten too much air play am upset about it but i got all of her Discs and Greatest Love Songs Disc i am telling you I Love listening too Angel her first major number 1 hit solo i am very impress of her strong vocals she is doing all of her back ground vocals on her own that is what she is called her an artist !Tarvis Mack yes i have heard ive Learned To Respect The Power Of Love it gives me goose b
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What can you say about Ms. Wimbush? The sister can sing like hell. She reminds me of a young Patti LaBelle, her vocals are madd crazy. If you have not heard the version I've Learned to Respect the Power of Love by Ms. Wimbush. You really have not heard the way it was meant to be song. Much love for Ms. Mills, but Ms. Wimbush version has much stronger in vocals. Listen to it and let me know your thoughts. I wish she return with another album and also reunite with Rene...they made some great 80's
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I will always enjoying listening to Angela's music.. The girl can SING !!!
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This song angle brings back some good thoughts i love her and love that song.
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great, great artist and work. would like to add her work to my lalah hathaway profile.
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