Angela Bofill, the artist known for singles like ‘I Try’ and ‘Angel of the Night’, has died. She was 70 years old.
The jazz musician’s friend and manager, Rich Engel, announced his death in two posts Friday on his Facebook. page after Bofill died Thursday.
“ON BEHALF OF MY DEAR FRIEND ANGIE, I AM SADRED TO ANNOUNCE HER PASSING AWAY ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 13,” Engel wrote.
He announced that the funeral would take place on June 28 at 1:00 pm at St. Dominick’s Church in Valejo, California.
“JUST TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION,” he added in another post. ‘ON BEHALF OF SHAUNA BOFILL, HUSBAND CHRIS PORTUGUESE, WE ARE SAD BUT WE MUST REPORT THAT ANGELA’S DEATH YESTERDAY IS TRUE.’
Angela Bofill, the artist known for singles like ‘I Try’ and ‘Angel of the Night’, has died. She was 70 years old; seen in 1960
Rich Engel, the jazz musician’s friend and manager, announced his death in two posts Friday on his Facebook page after Bofill died Thursday; seen in 1984
Engel wrote: ‘WE THANK MELBA MOORE AND MAYSA FOR THEIR CONDOLENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY POSTS. RICH ENGEL friend and manager.’
The cause of his death was not immediately clear.
Bofill previously directed false reports of his death in 2020 to Essence after it discovered when he received ‘Many calls confirming (if) it is true..’
“Friends screaming, ‘Oh my God, am I talking to Angela Bofill’s ghost?'” he recalled at the time. “Thank God it’s not true.”
Following premature tributes from fans, Bofill said: “Of course, you should always welcome love.” I thought, “They really like me!” (I’m just laughing at that, really. It’s better to have a sense of humor.
“My dad always told me when I was a kid, ‘When I die, you’re going to have a big party,'” Bofill said in the interview.
“Now I understand… But you’re not going to bury me just yet,” he continued. ‘I have to stay and see all those grandchildren I have graduate from high school and college. I love life.’
bofill suffered two strokes in 2006 and 2007, which left her paralyzed on her left side, requiring physical and speech therapy.
She is survived by her husband Chris Portuguese, her daughter Shauna and her grandchildren.
Bofill previously directed false reports of his death in 2020 to Essence after finding out when he received “many calls confirming (if) it’s true.”
Following premature tributes from fans, Bofill said: “Of course, you should always welcome love.” I thought, “They really like me!” (I’m just laughing at that, really. It’s better to have a sense of humor.’
Bofill suffered two strokes in 2006 and 2007, which left her paralyzed on her left side, requiring speech therapy and physical therapy; seen in 2022 with producer Narada Michael Walden
Born May 2, 1954 in Brooklyn, the Cuban-Puerto Rican singer grew up in the Bronx and sang with New York’s All City Chorus in high school before studying at the Manhattan School of Music.
Bofill was known for songs such as ‘This Time I Will Be Sweeter’, ‘Under the Moon and Above the Sky’ and ‘What I Wouldn’t Do (For the Love of You)’.
She was nominated for an American Music Award in 1984 for Best Female R&B/Soul Artist, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.
After Denzel Washington said that Bofill was one of her favorite artists, she told Essence that he “went to one of my Blue Note (shows) in New York and I had never heard of him before.”
‘My assistant was fainting: “Oh my God!” “Denzel told me I was his favorite singer (and I said), ‘Really? Thank you so much!'” he recalled.
Comedian Loni Love also paid tribute to Bofill after his death. “It is sad to hear of the death of Ángela Bofill,” she wrote on Friday in x, and added: ‘Thank you for the wonderful music. Rest now Angela.’