Bernard Belle

Bernard Belle
Bernard Belle
Born	November 12, 1964
Origin	Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 23, 2022 (aged 57)
Genres	New jack swing, R&B, gospel
Occupation(s)	Record producer; songwriter; musician; performer;
Instrument(s)	Bass guitar, vocals, piano
Years active	1984–2022

Bernard Belle (November 12, 1964 – June 23, 2022) was an American composer, producer, and musician. After starting his career as an R&B guitarist, Belle became known as a songwriter for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and a producer of gospel music.

Career

Belle grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and performed as a musician while still a student at Dwight Morrow High School.^[1]

Belle received his first break in the late 1980s. His sister,

R&B group The Manhattans

at the time, recommended him to play guitar for the group.

Bernard Belle is notable for his partnership with producer

Teddy Riley and his collaborations with Michael Jackson. He is credited with writing and co-writing "Remember the Time",^[2] "Privacy

" and "Why You Wanna Trip on Me".

He began working with Teddy Riley in 1986. Together, they became the pioneers of the

Today

.

After dedicating his life to

Christ in 1994, Belle still remained one of the most sought after producer/musicians in the Gospel music industry. He performed with Donnie McClurkin,^[4] Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Tye Tribbett, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence, Smokie Norful, Hezekiah Walker and BeBe & CeCe Winans

.

He was a recurring musician on the

BET gospel shows Sunday Best

and The Celebration of Gospel.

Belle's name appears on over 70 million records worldwide as a producer, writer, or musician. He received four

American Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards, over a dozen ASCAP Awards, and nominations for Stella and GMA Dove Awards

.

Personal life

Belle married his long time love Debra Belle in November 1995. Belle had five children.[5]

A longtime resident of

congestive heart failure.^[6]

Discography

Year	Song Title	Album/CD	Artist(s)	Credited as
1989	"You Found Another Guy"	High Hat	Boy George	Composer
		Stay with Me	Regina Belle	Producer
	"Your Love Is Not True", "Sexy Lady"	Today	Today	Producer
1990	"Let's Chill, Long Gone"	The Future	Guy	Backing vocalist, producer, composer
	"I Just Can't Handle It", "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)"	Hi-Five	Hi-Five	Composer, backing vocalist
	"It's Time", "A Friend"	Return	The Winans	Producer, composer
1991	"Let Me Know", "Tennis Anyone", "No Need to Worry", "My Happiness"	New Formula	Today	Backing vocalist, producer
		Voyce Boxing	Voyce Boxing	Remixing
	"Remember the Time", "Why You Wanna Trip on Me"	Dangerous	Michael Jackson	Composer
1992	"Get Away", "Two Can Play That Game", "One More Night", "Something in Common"	Bobby	Bobby Brown	Composer, backing vocalist
1994	"In You"	Here I Am	Glenn Jones	Composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer
1997		Baby Come To Me: The Best of Regina Belle	Regina Belle	Arranger
1997	"If By Chance"	Flame	Patti LaBelle	Composer
1998	"I Gotch U"	Believe in Me	Regina Belle	Keyboards, programming, producer, mixing, composer
1999	"Nobody Like You"	I Claim the Victory	Doc Powell	Composer
2001	"Johnny's Back"	This Is Regina!	Regina Belle	Producer, instrumentation, composer
2001	"Privacy"	Invincible	Michael Jackson	Composer
2005	"The Chosen One"	Ghetto Classics	Jaheim	Arranger, producer
2006		We Praise You	The McClurkin Project	Bass programming, guitar overdubs
2008	"Launch Out"	Launch Out Project	Rev. Stefanie R. Minatee	Bass, engineer, musician
2008	"God Is Good, Good To Be Loved"	Love Forever Shines	Regina Belle	Arranger, programming, producer, musician, composer

References

^ Spelling, Ian. "Playing the keys to success: Bernard Belle", (201) magazine, April 4, 2017. Accessed August 27, 2018. "Belle started playing in Reality, a band formed while he attended Englewood Junior High School. His sister, Regina – a Grammy Award-winning singer – joined the group. He continued to perform while at Dwight Morrow High School, and, in 1985, Regina paved the way for him to play in her new band, The Manhattans."
^ "Bernard Belle". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
^ "Bernard Belle Credits". ARTISTdirect Music. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
^ "Bernard Belle > Credits". allmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
^ Staff. "Teaneck and Englewood native Regina Belle is thankful of her Bergen roots" Archived August 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, (201) magazine, August 31, 2012. Accessed June 17, 2016. "Belle's brother, Bernard Belle, who is a producer, writer and musician, lives in Teaneck."
^ Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Bernard Belle, brother of Regina Belle-Battle, dies

External links

[1] Spelling, Ian. "Playing the keys to success: Bernard Belle", (201) magazine, April 4, 2017. Accessed August 27, 2018. "Belle started playing in Reality, a band formed while he attended Englewood Junior High School. His sister, Regina – a Grammy Award-winning singer – joined the group. He continued to perform while at Dwight Morrow High School, and, in 1985, Regina paved the way for him to play in her new band, The Manhattans."

[2] "Bernard Belle". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 6, 2009.

[3] "Bernard Belle Credits". ARTISTdirect Music. Retrieved November 6, 2009.

[4] "Bernard Belle > Credits". allmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2009.

[5] Staff. "Teaneck and Englewood native Regina Belle is thankful of her Bergen roots" Archived August 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, (201) magazine, August 31, 2012. Accessed June 17, 2016. "Belle's brother, Bernard Belle, who is a producer, writer and musician, lives in Teaneck."

[6] Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Bernard Belle, brother of Regina Belle-Battle, dies

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Authority control databases
National	Italy
Artists	MusicBrainz