Regina Belle

Biography

Regina Belle (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter who started her career in the mid-1980s. Known for her singles "Baby Come to Me" (1989) and "Make It Like It Was" (1990), Belle is most notable for three hit duets, all with Peabo Bryson: "Without You", the love theme from the comedy film Leonard Part 6, recorded in 1987; "A Whole New World", the main theme of the Disney's animated feature film Aladdin recorded in 1992, with which Belle and Bryson won a Grammy Award; and "I Just Can't Imagine".
The theme song "Far Longer than Forever" from the animated movie The Swan Princess, performed with Jeffrey Osborne, was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song.

Early life and education

Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey. It was at Englewood's Mount Calvary Baptist Church, and then Paterson's Friendship Baptist Church (presided over by Belle's uncle, the Reverend Fred Belle), that Belle began attracting attention with her vocal abilities. She sang her first solo in church at the age of eight. She attended Dwight Morrow High School, where she studied trombone, tuba, and steel drums. 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. 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, All by Myself×All By MyselfJune 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Show Me the Way4:26A2Take Your Love Away4:58A3Please Be Mine4:13A4After the Love Has Lost Its Shine4:48A5Intimate Relations4:32B1You Got the Love5:22B2How Could You Do It to Me4:53B3Gotta Give It Up3:54B4So Many Tears6:33. It includes her first hits "So Many Tears" and "Show Me the Way". The same year, Belle recorded her first successful duet with Peabo Bryson: the song "Without You", the love theme from the comedy film Leonard Part 6, also released in 1987. The song was her first single to appear on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at #8 and was also her first single to appear in four charts, including the UK Singles, peaking at #85, her best position in this chart until 1989. Her follow-up album, Stay with Me×Stay With Me7 August 1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Baby Come to Me5:41A2When Will You Be Mine4:43A3Dream Lover5:29A4What Goes Around5:35A5Make It Like It Was5:09B1Good Lovin’5:44B2It Doesn’t Hurt Anymore5:01B3This Is Love4:43B4(It’s Gonna Take) All Our Love4:36B5Someday We’ll All Be Free / Save the Children6:55, 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).
Later in 1993, she released her platinum-selling third album, Passion×Passion16 February 1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Interlude / Passion5:562Quiet Time5:093If I Could4:034Do You Wanna Get Serious5:335Dream in Color4:136My Man4:507The Deeper I Love4:558A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)4:069Love5:5510Heaven's Just a Whisper Away3:5611Tango in Paris4:1212One Love5:49. The album featured the Disney hit "A Whole New World". The theme song "Far Longer than Forever" from the animated movie The Swan Princess, performed with Jeffrey Osborne, was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song. 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 Peak-Concord Jazz. She released the album This Is Regina×This Is Regina23 October 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Oooh Boy4:452Let Me Hold You3:523From Now On4:314La Da Di3:395Gonna Get Over This Love4:296Don't Wanna Go Home3:557Someone Who Needs Me4:118Take My Time5:019Johnny's Back4:2310You Said3:5611Gotta Go Back4:4612What If4:23!, which featured the R&B hit single "Ooh Boy", and also released were "Don't Wanna Go Home" and "From Now On" with Glenn Jones. In 2004, she released a jazz standard album, Lazy Afternoon×Lazy Afternoon13 July 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lazy Afternoon5:222Fly Me to the Moon5:243What Are You Afraid Of4:494If I Ruled the World4:375Corcovado5:576There's a Love4:057Why Do People Fall in Love4:538For the Love of You5:269If I Should Lose You4:3410Moanin'5:5211The Man I Love5:2012Try a Little Tenderness6:19, produced by George Duke. The album included covers of the 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×Love Forever Shines13 May 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Love Forever Shines4:262Can't Nobody4:143Who Touched Me4:394God Is Good7:535Almost Slipped5:376I Hope He Understands4:357Victory5:278God Said3:489Good to Be Loved5:0810Come Into This Place6:2511Coming Out of This4:2812I Call on Jesus6:2213My Destiny3:3414I'll Never Leave You Alone6:11, on May 13, 2008, via Pendulum Records. The 14-track collection features guests Melvin Williams (of the Williams Brothers) and Shirley Murdock. On June 5, 2012, Belle released on Pendulum her second gospel album, called Higher×Higher5 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Higher4:052Mighty in Battle3:203Make an Example Out of Me5:534The Lord Is With You4:145That's How God Does3:506God Must Have Been With You4:497Been So Good to Me3:598Let God Work It Out4:219Coming Back3:5110We Win3:4411Lord of All5:4612I Will Bless the Lord4:37, 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]". 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.

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). Belle married former NBA basketball player John Battle on June 25, 1991. Belle and her husband reside in Atlanta, Georgia. John is a pastor of a church in Atlanta.
The couple has four children together, two of whom are adopted: daughter Winter, and son Jayln. After suffering miscarriages of two sets of twin boys, the couple had daughter Sydni (born 1994) and Nyla (born November 10, 1995). Belle has two grandchildren from Winter, Thea and Joshua.
Belle successfully battled a brain tumor in 2009. However, she is now deaf in her left ear.

Compilations

1997: Baby Come to Me: The Best of Regina Belle
2001: Super Hits
2006: Love Songs