St. Louis native Ángela Winbush’s deep contributions to the music industry

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - We continue to celebrate Black History Month and recognize the impact of Black people who have helped shape St. Louis.

Damon Arnold connected with one of St. Louis’ stars - Ángela Winbush. Her contributions to the music industry boost the rich history that makes St. Louis the force it is.

“I wanted to hit hard, and make sure we hit our community and our base so that we could expand. And we did,” she said.

It’s a hit that led to one after another, in fact, Winbush went on to sell more than ten million albums and singles worldwide

“That was the album. I did my best work,” said Winbush.

The 1985 album “Street Called Desire” racked up two number-one hits and two top-five R&B songs - one being “You Don’t Have to Cry” and the other being “Your Smile.”

“I wrote ‘Your Smile’ for my grandmother who was here in 1984 she ed and uh wound up putting ‘Your Smile’ on that album. I wrote ‘You Don’t Have to Cry,’ and unfortunately, I lost my brother um, he was 21, he committed suicide.”

The album, a result of years of work, traces back to her roots in St. Louis and growing up and singing in church.

“When I sang at church they said ‘Oh-you’re really anointed.’ I couldn’t hear that. I can’t feel that., But I’m being nurtured not knowing I will wind up in music,” said Winbush.

Singing under her grandfather and uncle’s gospel group Austin Layne and the Layne Ensemble - her path was already pre-guided vocally.

But it was at Howard University that Angela would be convinced by friends to switch paths to being a musician completely.

“They were saying, ‘Why are you in architecture?’ ‘Why are you in engineering,’” said Winbush.

“You know they found me in the fine arts. I was just, you know, playing the piano and singing like I do, and usually people are like awooooo, but this time they were like oh my god and you write. “Why are you in engineering? You should be in music.” And I was like ehh I hate music. Like I don’t wanna do that.

So, they started a group called Hot Tea who sang background for artists performing in town and just after graduating Winbush would get an unexpected phone call that would change her life.

“Next thing you know Stevie Wonder had called because I did a demo in 1977 right after graduation, and he said, ‘uh can you come out to LA?’ And I was like ‘uh I’m planning to go to New York,’” said Winbush.

“He was like “well, you can come out today,” and I was like “no I can’t come out today I’m still packing.” So, I came out the next day and never got back because they sent for my things, and he hired me right on the spot.”

ing his group Wonderlove in 1977, Winbush would sing background vocals on wonder’s hit song “As.”

Shortly after she would be connected with Rene Moore to form the duo.

After the two disbanded - Winbush started pursuing a solo career as she continued writing for artists like Janet Jackson and Stephanie Mills.

In 1987 - under Ronald Isley’s management - she released the album “Sharp” which scored big with the hit song “Angel” - reaching number one on the R&B charts.

“I never imagined even writing ‘Angel’ after um René and Angela had disband,” said Winbush.

“We have to stay relevant. But you want to do good work, and that’s all I wanted to do. If I’m going to be in music, let me do good work, and do good work that will stand the test of time, but I didn’t know it would, I was just hoping it would.”

Winbush released two more studio albums - The Real Thing and her self-titled.

She would go on to marry Ronald Isley as the two worked on a number of projects.

Fast forward to today -Angela - has remarried, and become an ordained minister after surviving Stage III Ovarian Cancer.

Still performing flawlessly at 69 - she doubles as a historian, keeping the arts and history alive in the city she calls home.

“It’s very important that we information down, that’s why I’m doing this here today because this is history because when I’m not here you’ll be able to play this later and get some gems of knowledge of what happened when were here,” said Winbush.

“I was reaching for things because I was always at the art museum, and we got to go the opera it’s important to have an arts district because you’re showing global, it’s more global and not regional, where you are small-minded that you don’t think anything else is out there, but your world - this exposed me to global and I was prepared.”

“When you look up and you see the stars of St. Louis and you see your name up there, what’s that say to you personally about the work that you’ve done?” asked Arnold.

“Let the work I’ve done speak for me and I wanted it to be honored, but I’m honored that it is relevant enough to have stood the test of time. That’s all I can say, And thank God for my family and my upbringing, because my upbringing has made me who I am,” concluded Winbush.

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