Angela Bofill, the celebrated R&B singer known for her soulful hits “I Try,” “I’m On Your Side,” and “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” has passed away at the age of 70. The Cuban-Puerto Rican artist died on Thursday at her daughter’s residence in Vallejo, California, as confirmed by her friend and representative, Rich Engel. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
Engel shared the heartbreaking news on Bofill’s official Facebook page, expressing his sorrow and providing details about her funeral. “ON BEHALF OF MY DEAR FRIEND ANGIE, I AM SADDENED TO ANNOUNCE HER PASSING ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 13TH,” he wrote. In a follow-up post, he clarified, “JUST TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION. ON BEHALF OF SHAUNA BOFILL, HUSBAND CHRIS PORTUGUESE, WE ARE SADDENED BUT MUST REPORT THAT THE PASSING OF ANGELA YESTERDAY IS INDEED TRUE. WE THANK MELBA MOORE AND MAYSA FOR THEIR EARLY CONDOLENCES. THANKS FOR YOUR MANY POSTS.”
Born Angela Tomasa Bofill on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, she was the daughter of a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother. Her musical journey began in her teenage years when she sang with New York City’s All City Chorus, which showcased the best vocal talents from high schools across the five boroughs. She later earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, setting the stage for her professional career in the 1970s.
Bofill’s debut album, “Angie,” was released in 1978 under GRP Records and was met with critical acclaim. The album featured the hit “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and the jazz composition “Under the Moon and Over the Sky.” Her follow-up album, “Angel of the Night,” released less than a year later, included the iconic tracks “What I Wouldn’t Do (For the Love of You)” and “I Try,” solidifying her place in the R&B and jazz markets as one of the first Latina singers to achieve such success.
Her third album, “Something About You,” marked her first collaboration with Arista Records, with Narada Michael Walden as the producer and Clive Davis as the executive. Although it featured successful singles like “Holdin’ Out for Love” and the title track “Something About You,” it did not achieve the same level of success as her previous works.
Bofill continued to collaborate with Walden on two more albums, “Too Tough,” which included the hit “I’m On Your Side,” and “Teaser.” She later signed with Capitol Records in the 1980s and worked with Norman Connors on the album “Intuition.” Throughout her career, she released a total of 10 studio albums and provided backing vocals for renowned artists such as Diana Ross and Kirk Whalum.
In the mid-2000s, Bofill faced significant health challenges, suffering two strokes in 2006 and 2007. The first stroke left her paralyzed on her left side and in need of extensive speech and physical therapy. Without health insurance to cover her medical expenses, her manager organized a benefit concert to raise funds, with the support of New York radio stations Kiss FM and WFAN-FM.
Despite her health struggles, Bofill remained resilient and continued to connect with her fans through “The Angela Bofill Experience,” a show where she shared stories about her life while other artists performed her songs. In a 2011 interview with The Washington Post, she expressed her joy at returning to the stage, saying, “I feel happy performing again. I need crowd. In the blood, entertain. Any time a crowd comes to see me, I’m surprised. No sing no more and still people come. Wow. Impressed.”
Angela Bofill was inducted into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023, a testament to her enduring impact on the music industry. Her funeral is scheduled to take place at St. Dominic’s Church in Vallejo on June 28 at 1 p.m.
She is survived by her husband, Chris Portuguese, and her daughter, Shauna Bofill. The music world mourns the loss of a true icon whose voice and spirit touched the hearts of many.
