Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
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United States Angela Winbush is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer known for her prolific career in R&B, soul, and gospel music, influencing a generation of artists.
Angela Winbush, as part of René & Angela, wrote and produced four songs for Janet Jackson's 1982 self-titled debut album. One of these songs, "Young Love," became Jackson's first top ten U.S. R&B hit, reaching number six on the chart.
Angela Winbush wrote and produced the U.S. number one hit "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" for Stephanie Mills in 1985. She also wrote and produced another U.S. R&B number one, "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)," for Mills' album Home in 1989.
Angela Winbush served as a producer, writer, and arranger for The Isley Brothers, helping them achieve a top 10 R&B hit with the title track of their 1987 album "Smooth Sailin'." She later oversaw all songwriting and production on their 1989 album "Spend the Night," and co-wrote and co-produced their 1992 album "Tracks of Life." She produced the majority of their 1996 album "Mission to Please" and contributed to their 2001 album "Eternal."
Angela Winbush wrote and produced two tracks, "Without You" and "Fire and Rain," for Sheena Easton's gold album "The Lover in Me" in 1988.
Angela Lisa Winbush, born on January 18, 1955, in St. Louis, Missouri, began her musical journey singing in church and learned to play the piano as a child. Initially pursuing architecture at Howard University, she later switched to music education, demonstrating her developing commitment to the arts. Her early career involved performing with a group called “Hot Tea” and doing background vocals for various artists. A pivotal moment came in 1977 when a personal introduction led her to join Stevie Wonder’s backing vocal group, Wonderlove, where she further honed her songwriting and arranging skills under Wonder’s mentorship.
In Los Angeles, Winbush formed the R&B duo René & Angela with René Moore. The duo released their self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by “Wall to Wall” in 1982 and “Rise” in 1983. They achieved success with R&B hit singles like “I Love You More” and “My First Love.” Beyond their own performances, Winbush and Moore penned and produced four songs for Janet Jackson’s 1982 debut album, including the top ten R&B hit “Young Love.” Their collaborative work extended to artists such as Rufus & Chaka Khan, Lamont Dozier, and Odyssey, establishing their reputation as talented music writers and producers.
The duo reached a career high in 1985 with their platinum-selling album “Street Called Desire,” featuring number one R&B singles “Save Your Love (For #1)” and “Your Smile.” Following the dissolution of René & Angela due to internal tensions, Winbush launched a successful solo career. Her 1987 debut solo album, “Sharp,” included the R&B number one hit “Angel,” showcasing her four-octave vocal range. She continued to achieve R&B chart success with albums like “The Real Thing” (1989) and “Angela Winbush” (1994), alongside her work as a writer and producer for artists like Stephanie Mills and The Isley Brothers. Her contributions to The Isley Brothers’ work led to her marriage with lead singer Ronald Isley in 1993, and she continued to collaborate with them until their divorce in 2002. Winbush also overcame a battle with stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2003, subsequently returning to performing.
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