Angela Bofill

Pop-jazz singer Angela Bofill grew up in the Bronx, the daughter of a French-Cuban father (a former bandleader) and a Puerto Rican mother. At age 10 she began studying piano and viola, and a few years later began writing her own songs. In high school she sang in the All-City Chorus and after hours with a group called the Puerto Rican Supremes. By graduation day she was singing on the Latino club circuit with the Group, Ricardo Morrero’s popular salsa band. Meanwhile she studied voice (she has a four-octave range) at the Hartford Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music. She developed an interest in jazz through friendships with Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, and Flora Purim. After earning her music degree she was hired by the Dance Theater of Harlem as a singer, dancer, composer, and arranger. She also wrote and performed a jazz suite premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and sang with jazz masters Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderley and with the reggae group Inner Circle.

Through flutist Dave Valentin of the Group, she met Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen of GRP Records, who signed her to a seven-year contract in 1978. Her debut was a best-selling jazz album and a promising soul and pop debut. “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” made #23 on the R&B singles charts. Her second album moved her closer to widespread popularity, charting at #10 R&B.

It was two years before she made another record. In the interim she settled a royalty dispute with GRP by transferring her contract to Arista. She also toured North America, South America, and Asia. Her 1981 album was produced by Narada Michael Walden. She produced half of Too Tough herself.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)