The Music That Moves Me | My Lifelong Connection With Rhythm and Blues And Angela Winbush

I'm a sucker for a love song. The lyrics and meanings behind the words just pull me in and take me on a journey into the mind of the singer. Being a short fiction write, I'm immediately tossed into a story plot involving the sometimes unnamed characters in the song. I try to figure out how they can become closer if the song details the unraveling of a relationship. Or if the lyrics are about a deep, abiding love, I attempt to figure out how their love lasted that length of time.

Alternatively, I try to imagine when controversies arise in a relationship, how the parties extricate themselves from the situation and find each other again, if that is to be the outcome.

Silly. Well, many of my short fiction stories are formed along that vein. I hear the music playing as the characters are speaking to each other or to outside parties about the relationship.

Also, when the lovers are apart, what are they thinking? Is the relationship secure or on rocky ground? Which song can help their situation or advise them that it's time to part ways.

A thought in that direction.

The song by Gladys Knight and the Pips, "It's Time To Go Now", does just that. In her song, she tells the couple that "it's been fun, but the clock on the wall says it's time to go". I absolutely love those lines. When I think of people who are matched well, I feel they should be mature enough to know when to call it quits. Leave before a situation occurs that rises to the level of intense drams and spins out of control.

I don't possess the gift of a vocal artist. But I do love to attempt to sing the songs in private while listening to the music that those gifted souls bring to life.

I've always believed that the one thing that brings people together that they all can appreciate is the sound of music, musicians, and lyrics. Whether or not an artist is well-known, if the music resonates, then it will be discovered, listened to, and enjoyed.

I grew up in the mid 50s. Listening to gospel and blues, I didn't understand nor fully appreciate the music I was listening to. The impact of the music hadn't materialized.

The songs were to later become the epitome of the African American musical experience I was hearing on a daily basis just singing along with the words.

Muddy Waters 45 LP played daily on our phonograph with the plastic yellow spinner holding the vinyl disk in place. The sultry strings and often crackling deep voice floated through the rooms of our home. There was no escaping it. Either you loved it or hated it.

My mother's first love, blues and gospel ruled our household. I soon learned the voices and style of the musicians before they were legends.

As a teen, I began to appreciate the music and artists as I learned about the musicians and how they struggled to break into the music business in the early years of blues.

It was an era when singing was true to its form. You witnessed the singers on stage. You heard them clearly singing the lyrics. There was no need for loud music, especially drums, that drowned out the singers' voices. Still further, the antics and skimpy garments that are displayed today that draw one's focus away from the lyrics and talented voices of the singers turns me off with a nauseating distaste for that music genre.

I was enthralled with the groups. I knew all the lyrics and dance moves and could recognize the groups' unique style of uniforms. A fun time in my young adult music listening years.

When Rhythm and Blues came upon the scene, it took hold immediately the music of the era.

Evolving my musical preference into rhythm and blues was easy. This genre captivated and has held my interest to this day. Rhythm and Blues is a form of popular music of African American origin that arose during the 1940s. In actuality, it was derived from the true, down home blues sounds. The addition of rhythms taken from jazz was a driving force.

The type of instruments typically heard in this music genre is double bass drums, electric guitars, electric organs, horns, pianos, and saxophones.

I didn't realize that rock and roll evolved in part from rhythm and blues.

Rhythm and Blues as a national commercial product.

In the commercial industry, rhythm and blues music of the 1950s and to and including the 1970s took over the music world a natural phenomenon.

This music genre consisted primarily of organized bands whereby the groups usually consisted of one or two guitar musicians, one on the piano, bass, drums, and sometimes the saxophone.

There may or may not be a lead singer. Instead, a group who participated on equal status would perform soulful renditions on stage and be given equal opportunity to showcase their vocal talents.

Arrangements were rehearsed. The bands dressed in suits, and even uniforms, a practice associated with the modern popular music that rhythm and blues performers aspired to dominate.

Lyrics often seemed fatalistic. This can be seen by the simple choices of taking or not taking specific actions to achieve a desired result. Often, the choices either ended relationships or supported them. I remember lyrics such as "if you don't do this, then I'm leaving you"; or "if you don't act a certain way, then I'll find someone else who will".

Also, the music typically followed predictable patterns of chords and structure. The lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy as well as triumphs and failures in terms of relationships, economics, and aspirations. Finally, social issues can be seen rising from the soulful tunes that evoke powerful emotions or elicit a call to action. ¹

However, for my listening pleasure, I feel that the most enduring rhythm and blues tunes were of love songs.

It is these all-encompassing themes that grabbed hold of and flung me into the grasp of rhythm and blues music forever as part of my heritage and background of life in the inner city. The majority of my music choices are rock and roll, blues, and rhythm and jazz. Rhythm and blues holds a special place in my listening genre.

It was with this backdrop of this music genre that I naturally gravitated toward single artists when the golden oldies "groups" retired or members parted ways. They either joined other groups or attempted solo careers. Groups such as The Supremes (Dianna Ross); The Temptations (Dennis Edwards, David Rufkin, among others).

Once I began to follow those solo performers, I decided to listen to those who had a message to impart. The message can be one of hope, relationships, people of the world, or bringing awareness to certain social wrongs or injustices.

But often I like to kick back, relax and absorb a mellow or intense but smooth voice. Numerous artists never fully received the recognition I felt they deserved. This I felt was especially true given the era of the performances when singers actually sang a song without assistance from studio equipment enhancements seen in later eras.

And the artist with whom I spend some of my time with is Angela Winbush.

When I think of Ms. Winbush, my thoughts immediately turn to relationships and the sometimes turmoil that can develop. No relationship in this world is perfect. The reason I believe is that no two individuals who decide to spend their life together is perfect. So, there will be bumps in the road or issues to work through. How the two people handle such problems when they do arise.

ANGELA WINBUSH

Angela Lisa Winbush was born on January 18, 1955. She is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter who rose to fame first in the 1980s rhythm and blues scene. To date, Ms. Winbush has sold over ten million albums and singles worldwide.

This talented singer is prolific in my opinion. I would also opine to say that her voice rivals that of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Or dare I say, Whitney Houston.

According to Kurt Oswald of The Voice, Ms. Winbush got her start singing at an early age at Temple Church of Christ, a church founded by her grandparents, Bishop Austin and Sister Selena Layne, in St. Louis, Missouri. ²

However, Angela yearned for a career in design, so she enrolled at the historic Howard University in Washington, DC as an architecture student.

While at Howard, she began singing to earn funds for her college expenses.

Branching out, she began singing with Richard Smallwood at Union Temple Baptist Church, in line with her church roots.

During this time, she also began performing with friends. Hot Tea was the name of their group. She enjoyed the group experience immensely.

Angela's exposure to the music industry came about during her stint with the group Hot Tea as they traveled performing opening acts for major artists. It was during this time Àngela began performing background vocals for different music artists.

By 1977 Àngela realized her passion was music was set. She switched her college major from Architecture to Music Education.

Angela now realized her passion and her future would involve the music industry. She had no idea the impact she would make.

Her first big break came after recording a demo and advertising it to major record labels. The demo landed her a job as a backup singer to Stevie Wonder. So impressed was he that she soon became Stevie’s protégé, learning the nuances of the record industry. But it didn't stop there. When she performed with Stevie's group, Wonderlove, she contributed to his multi-platinum album "Songs in the Key of Life".

It was this time that she discovered her talent for writing and arranging music. And the music industry discovered an amazing voice and contributor to the industry as a producer.

In 1979 Àngela met Rene’ Moore, secured a record deal, and released their first album in 1980. By 1985 they had a stream of hits including “Save Your Love”, “I’ll Be Good” and “Your Smile,” which reached number one. However, by 1986, they parted ways.

It was in 1987 that Angela re-emerged as a solo artist with a series of modest hits. But her largest and most popular single hit and signature song remains “Angel.”

[Source: ²]

After her re-emergence, Angela experienced an enduring career.

On her 1994 album, "Angela Winbush", it was noted that she combined the best of new production technology and the old-fashioned bottom line musical talent. In response, she is noted as saying the following:

"It's fun to create new things, and I'm not against that," she told J. D. Considine of Musician in 1994. "But I am against losing a sense of how to pass on a certain type of creativity and musicianship.... I look for the feel, so I find myself trying to mix the two so I don't lose either one." ³

Sometimes an artist may not be flashy or renown on the world stage. Angela is one of those talented singers who I believe never received the worldwide fame and recognition she deserved.

She certainly never accumulated the excessive wealth and commercial success.

However, as a producer and songwriter, she helped elevate others to fame, such as The Isley Brothers, one of the top Rhythm and Blues musical groups. She was formerly married to Ronald Isley, of the group.

Not only that, in 1990, Angela started her own production company, Angela Winbush Productions.

Angela has produced such prolific artists such as Lalah Hathaway, Stephanie Mills, Janet Jackson, and Sheena Easton. ³

That said, it's Angela's own music that I feel makes her a premium musical talent. Her vocal control is amazing.

I'd like to share with you today two of her songs.

SONG: "ANGEL"

The song Angel is my favorite for this singer. In all songs individuals gravitate toward, they can find lyrics that hold special meaning. That's the exact feelings I have when deciding to purchase and listen repeatedly to specific songs.

It reminds me of the feelings women have and respond to when they believe they have found the perfect man in their lives.

Life's path to finding love and happiness is not always easy. Individuals may repeatedly search out other potential love interests that may not be the best choice. Others hope the person will change.

When one repeatedly chooses another partner that is not a suitable fit, they in fact make the same decision, expecting a different result. However, the song "Angel" tells of finding that perfect person that you feel makes life bearable. The song suggests that one's life feels empty and without meaning until they meet the right partner that may take them in a another, more positive direction.

The lyrics:

"I found a perfect paradise within my life with you. Heaven opened up its gates and peace of mind came shining through."

"You smiled at me when the world was unkind. I'm finally able to unwind."

"You lift me up when I'm torn down".

hold special meanings for me in the early stages of courting in my own now 50-year relationship with my spouse.

When Winbush speaks of "finding a perfect paradise within my life with you", the words are not referring to a place. It's a feeling captured and tucked away where only you can access.

The lyrics just melt my soul. Angela's electrifying crescendo voice hitting both high and low notes in one breath takes you on a journey where you don't know when the sound will come.

The saying that "love is blind", "one is blinded by love", or "looking through rose-colored glasses" can be true in a sense. It's difficult to see a person's faults when the feelings are deep rooted. It's the person you have chosen, and you want to see only the good in them.

The high note Angela attains reminds me of the level of intensity of the love that fills your mind and soul with harmony.

I hope you enjoy listening to "Angel", which was released in 1987 on her Sharp album.