Melba Moore, Sheila E. and More Stars Mourn Angela Bofill's Death: 'You Will Truly Be Missed My Sister'

The R&B singer, best known for hits like "I Try" and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter," died at her daughter's home in California on Thursday, June 13

Angela Bofill on 3/16/83 in Chicago, Il.
Angela Bofill performing in March 1983 in Chicago. Photo:

Paul Natkin/WireImage

  • Angela Bofill died on Thursday, June 13, at the age of 70
  • The R&B singer's musical peers like Melba Moore, Sheila E., Maysa and more took to social media to mourn her death
  • A rep for Bofill confirmed to PEOPLE that the "I Try" songstress died at her daughter's home in California

R&B singer Angela Bofill is being remembered by the music world following her death at age 70.

Trailblazing actress and singer Melba Moore, iconic drummer Sheila E. and more are among the stars who have publicly mourned the performer, who died on Thursday, June 13, at her daughter's home in Vallejo, Calif., a rep confirmed to PEOPLE the following day.

“The Escovedo family is sad by the loss of this amazing beautiful soul,” wrote Sheila E. (real name Sheila Escovedo), 66, under a post on Bofill’s personal Facebook account, which shared the news of her death. “We are praying for the family. You will truly be missed my sister my queen. Rest in peace. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽”

Shortly after the world learned of Bofill’s death, Moore, 78, shared an old photo of the two singers in New York City on Instagram captioned, “RIP Dear sweet Angela Bofill Sunset: 6-13-2024 😢 🌹.” The Broadway star — who was close friends with Bofill and performed with her — signed the post, “Love Melba Forever Moore.”

Singer Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill performs during 'ChicagoFest' at Navy Pier in Chicago in August 1983.

Raymond Boyd/Getty

Several celebrities flooded Moore’s comments with reactions to Bofill’s death, including Holly Robinson Peete, who wrote, “Nooooooooooooo💔💔💔💔.” 

Emmy-nominated musical director Michael Bearden — who’s collaborated with Bofill and everyone from Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga to Elton John and Sting — commented as well, recalling times he worked with the Intuition artist.

"One of my earliest gigs when I moved to NYC after school was as Angela’s music director/ keyboardist. I heard her do an interview on the radio when I was a kid and said I wanted to work with her one day,” the musician wrote. “It happened. Toured all over the world with her. I’m so saddened to hear this news. I have photos of me and her daughter Shauna when she was a little girl. This is heartbreaking. R.I.P. Angie. You are loved and will be missed. 😪🙏🏾🕊.”

In another Instagram post, Moore shared a throwback clip of Bofill performing her 1983 song “I’m on Your Side” during her 2010s tour extravaganza, The Angela Bofill Experience. The “A Little Bit More” singer included her late friend’s birth date and death date in the caption, along with the date of her homegoing service, Friday, June 28.

Jazz singer Maysa — who also performed on the Angela Bofill Experience — paid tribute to the late music figure on Instagram after her death, writing, “MISS ANGIE… thank you for being you and such an amazing singer-songwriter..and being so sweet to me.”

“Being on stage with you and feeling how supportive you were while I was singing your songs for you, was an honor I will always treasure,” the singer-songwriter, 57, continued alongside photos of the two. “And thank you for giving me your blessing to record your signature song I Try. Thank you Rich Engel for introducing me to the one and only Angela Bofill REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE..”

African-American R&B and jazz singer Angela Bofill, 1960.
Angela Bofill in 1960.

Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty

News of Bofill’s death was shared across social media on Friday, June 14, in two separate posts on her Facebook page. The first read, “ON BEHALF OF MY DEAR FRIEND ANGIE, I AM SADDENED TO ANNOUNCE HER PASSING ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 13TH,” adding that her funeral will be held at St. Dominick's Church in California on June 28 at 1 p.m.

A second update, which was signed by the singer’s friend and manager, Rich Engel, added, “JUST TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION. ON BEHALF OF SHAUNA BOFILL, HUSBAND CHRIS PORTUGUESE, WE ARE SADDENED BUT MUST REPORT THAT THE PASSING OF ANGELA YESTERDAY IS INDEED TRUE. WE THANK MELBA MOORE AND MAYSA FOR THEIR EARLY CONDOLENCES. THANKs FOR YOUR MANY POST.”

Bofill was born in New York City in 1954. The famed singer, of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent, began her professional music career as a teen in the early ‘70s before she dropped her debut album, Angie, in 1978. She continued on recording through the 1990s with albums like I Wanna Love Somebody and Love in Slow Motion.

The songstress — who became an influential figure in both R&B and jazz — is best known for songs like “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “What I Wouldn’t Do (For the Love of You)” and “I Try,” all of which helped her earn a spot in the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.

Bofill suffered two strokes in 2006 and 2007 before returning to the stage five years later. Speaking to Essence in 2020 about her hiatus and the difficulties of performing again following her health issues, the “Break It to Me Gently” artist shared, “Well, to tell you the truth, I was happy to have a break [after] 25 years straight on the road. Celebrating birthdays and holidays, it’s been really marvelous.”

The singer also revealed that, if given the chance to perform wholly again, she would sing her song “Children of the World United” from her debut album. “The message is pertinent in our times still,” Bofill added. “I believe in this positive thinking.” 

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