Regina Belle
Regina Belle | |
|---|---|
 Belle in concert on the Holland America Line Ship, 2008. | |
| Born | July 17, 1963[1][2][3] Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.[3] |
| Education | Rutgers University |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) |
[4] [5] |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Bernard Belle (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Regina Belle[Grammy award.
The theme song "Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song.[6]
Biography
Early life and education
Belle was born in
steel drums.[7] After graduation, Belle studied opera at the Manhattan School of Music. She attended Rutgers University
and became the first female vocalist with the school's jazz ensemble.
Belle's musical influences include Phyllis Hyman, Billie Holiday, Shirley Caesar, Patti LaBelle, and Nancy Wilson.[8] She was introduced to the Manhattans by New York radio DJ Vaughn Harper and began working as their opening act. She recorded the duet "Where Did We Go Wrong" with the group on their Back to Basics album, which helped to attract the attention of Columbia Records. She recorded a second duet, "Maybe Tomorrow", which appeared on the B-side of "Where Did We Go Wrong". Columbia eventually signed her to a record deal.
Career
In 1987, she released her debut album UK Singles, peaking at #85, her best position in this chart until 1989. Her follow-up album, Stay with Me, released in 1989. Belle recorded a duet in 1991 with Johnny Mathis, "Better Together" which appeared on his album Better Together: The Duet Album. Continuing her tradition of duets, Belle teamed up with Peabo Bryson for four songs: "Without You" (in 1987), "I Can't Imagine" (in 1991), "A Whole New World" (in 1992) and "Total Praise" (in 2009).
[9][10]
Later in 1993, she released her platinum-selling third album, Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song.[6] She released Reachin' Back in 1995 followed by Believe in Me in 1998.
In 2001, her cover of "Just the Two of Us" from the tribute album To Grover, With Love made a surprising return to the Billboard charts. Within months Belle would sign with the jazz-oriented independent label
Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" and Tony Bennett's "If I Ruled the World". In 2007, she collaborated with smooth jazz saxophonist Paul Taylor, co-writing and singing on his album "Ladies Choice". Belle released her debut gospel album Love Forever Shines on May 13, 2008, via Pendulum Records. The 14-track collection features guests Melvin Williams (of the Williams Brothers) and Shirley Murdock.[12][13] On June 5, 2012, Belle released on Pendulum her second gospel album, called Higher, on which she stated: "I think that, with the second CD [Higher] I had a better understanding of where I wanted to go [compared to Love Forever Shines]".[14] Belle has appeared in concert with many other performers, including Ray Charles, Boney James, Paul Taylor, The Rippingtons, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Maze, Frankie Beverly, Phil Perry, Al Jarreau, and Stephanie Mills.[15]
Personal life
Belle has been married twice. Her first marriage was to saxophonist and flute player Horace Alexander Young from 1985 until 1990, and together they adopted a daughter named Tiy (born 1989)[16][citation needed]. Belle married former NBA basketball player John Battle on June 25, 1991.[17] The couple has four children together, two of whom are adopted: daughter Winter, and son Jayln[citation needed]. After suffering miscarriages of two sets of twin boys[citation needed], the couple had daughter Sydni (born 1994) and Nyla (born November 10, 1995).[18] Belle has two grandchildren from Winter, Thea and Joshua.[19] Belle successfully battled a brain tumor in 2009. However, she is now deaf in her left ear.[20][citation needed] Belle and her husband reside in Atlanta, Georgia. John is a pastor of a church in Atlanta.[21]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Certifications [22] |
Record label | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [23] |
US R&B [23] |
US Jazz [23] |
US Gospel [23] |
UK [24] | ||||
| 1987 | All by Myself | 85 | 14 | — | — | 53 | Columbia | |
| 1989 | Stay with Me | 63 | 1 | — | — | 62 |
| |
| 1993 | Passion | 63 | 13 | — | — | — |
| |
| 1995 | Reachin' Back | 115 | 18 | — | — | — | ||
| 1998 | Believe in Me | — | 42 | — | — | — | MCA | |
| 2001 | This Is Regina! | — | 61 | — | — | — | Peak | |
| 2004 | Lazy Afternoon | — | 58 | 12 | — | — | ||
| 2008 | Love Forever Shines | 119 | 15 | — | 3 | — | Pendulum | |
| 2012 | Higher | — | 44 | — | 15 | — | ||
| 2016 | The Day Life Began | — | — | — | 11 | — | Shanachie | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart. | ||||||||
Compilations
- 1997: Baby Come to Me: The Best of Regina Belle
- 2001: Super Hits
- 2006: Love Songs
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [23] |
US R&B [23] |
US A/C
[23] |
US Dance
[23] |
US Gospel [23] |
UK
[24] | ||
| 1986 | "Where Did We Go Wrong?" (with The Manhattans) | — | 42 | — | — | — | — |
| 1987 | "Show Me the Way" | 68 | 2 | — | — | — | 97 |
| "So Many Tears" | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Without You" (with Peabo Bryson) | 89 | 14 | 8 | — | — | 85 | |
| 1988 | "How Could You Do It to Me" | — | 21 | — | — | — | — |
| "After the Love Has Lost Its Shine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "You Got the Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | "All I Want Is Forever" (with James "J.T." Taylor) | — | 2 | 34 | — | — | — |
| "Baby Come to Me" | 60 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Good Lovin'" | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | |
| "Make It Like It Was" | 43 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | "What Goes Around" | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| "This Is Love" | — | 7 | 29 | — | — | — | |
| 1992 | "Better Together" (with Johnny Mathis) | — | 68 | — | — | — | — |
| "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (with Peabo Bryson) | 1 | 21 | 1 | — | — | 12 | |
| 1993 | "If I Could" | 52 | 9 | 12 | — | — | — |
| "Quiet Time" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Dream in Color" | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | |
| "The Deeper I Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1994 | "Far Longer than Forever" (with Jeffrey Osborne) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | "Love T.K.O." | — | 29 | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | "Don't Let Go" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "I've Had Enough" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | "Oooh Boy" | — | 63 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | "For the Love of You" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | "God Is Good" | — | 83 | — | — | 2 | — |
| "I Call on Jesus" | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | |
| 2012 | "Make an Example Out of Me" | — | — | — | — | 19 | — |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart. | |||||||
Awards and nominations
- American Music Award
- 1991, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (Nominated)
- Grammy Award
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Make It Like It Was" | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1994 | "A Whole New World" (with Peabo Bryson) | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Won | ||
| 1999 | Believe in Me | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album | Nominated |
| 2002 | This is Regina | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album | Nominated |
- MTV Movie Awards
- 1993, Best Song From a Movie: "A Whole New World" (with Peabo Bryson) (Nominated)
- 1993,
See also
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100
References
- ^ ISBN 9780787679231– via Google Books.
- ISBN 9780634099267– via Google Books.
- ^ ISBN 9781442271500– via Google Books.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (June 1, 1990). "Ebony". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 70 – via Internet Archive.
regina belle Horace Young.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (September 30, 1991). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Awards for Lex de Azevedo". IMDb. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ Beckerman, Jim (October 31, 2004). "For Regina Belle, time for a special payback". The Record. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- ^ Bryant, Scott Poulsen (1993). "Regina: A showstopper with star power". Essence Magazine. Vol. 24, no. 4. pp. 56–60.
- ^ Scott, Ron (2004). "Belle's Lazy afternoon". New York Amsterdam News. Vol. 95, no. 37. p. 17.
- ^ Lopez, Robert (August 3, 2007). "Regina Belle knows about sacrifices". Knight Ridder Tribune Business News.
- ^ "Regina Belle Artist Chart History". Retrieved May 6, 2008.
- ^ "Regina Belle Releases Gospel Album: Multi-Grammy Award winner's debut gospel project, 'Love Forever Shines' in stores soon". EURweb.com. March 7, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008.
- ^ Quinn, Gwendolynn (March 5, 2008). "Multiple Grammy Winner Regina Belle Releases Debut Gospel Album". The Industry Cosign.
- ^ "Regina Belle on Her New Gospel Album, 'Higher,' and Still Singing Her Secular Songs". YouTube. June 4, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2016.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ Watrous, Peter (July 1, 1991). "Jazz Festival; Ray Charles's Silences, Regina Belle's Wildness". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
- ISSN 0012-9011.
- ^ "Singer Regina Belle Weds Basketball Star John Battle". Jet. September 30, 1991. p. 24.
- ^ wblsfm1075 (March 3, 2016). "Regina Belle Talks New Album "The Day Life Began" + Shares A Message To Women!". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Harrington, Richard (November 9, 2007). "Free to be Regina Belle". Washington Post. p. WE05. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
- ^ "NPR, MUSIC: Gospel Singer Regina Belle Reaches 'Higher'". NPR. July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ISSN 0012-9011.
- ^ "Regina Belle US certification history". riaa.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Regina Belle US chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ a b "Regina Belle Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
External links
- Regina Belle official website
- Regina Belle at AllMusic
- Regina Belle 2016 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
