Angela Bofill, ‘I Try’ & ‘This Time I’ll Be Sweeter’ Singer, Dies at 70
The R&B vocalist passed away on June 13 at her daughter’s home in Vallejo, Calif.
Angela Bofill performs at the Park West Theater in Chicago in 1984.
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Angela Bofill, the R&B singer known for songs including “I Try,” “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Angel of the Night,” has died. She was 70.
News of her death was shared Friday (June 14) on her personal Facebook account by manager and friend Rich Engel.
“On behalf of my dear friend Angie, I am saddened to announce her passing on the morning of June 13th,” Engel wrote in his first post.
He added in a second message, “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. Thank for your many posts.”
Iconic percussionist Sheila E. took to the comments section to share her condolences. “The Escovedo family is sad by the loss of this amazing beautiful soul. We are praying for the family. You will truly be missed my sister my queen. Rest in peace,” she wrote.
Bofill passed away at her daughter’s home in Vallejo, Calif., according to TMZ. A cause of death was not provided, but she had suffered two strokes in 2006 and 2007 that caused paralysis on the left side of her body.
She spoke to the Denver Post in 2011 after taking a five-year break to recover.
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“I feel happy performing again,” Bofill said at the time. “I need crowd. In the blood, entertain. Any time a crowd comes to see me, I’m surprised. No sing no more and still people come. Wow. Impressed.”
Born in New York City, the vocalist began recording music during her teenage years and released her debut album, Angie, in 1978. She continued recording into the 1990s. Last year, the singer was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Bofill had five albums that made the top half of the Billboard 200 — two on GRP Records and three on Arista. Her 1983 Arista single “Too Tough” made the top five on what was then called Black Singles (now Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Her other R&B hits included “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “Tonight I Give In” an a cover version of Gino Vannelli’s 1978 smash “I Just Wanna Stop.”
Bofill’s funeral will be held at St. Dominic’s Church in California at 1 p.m. on June 28, according to Engel’s Facebook post.
She is survived by her husband, Chris Portuguese, and daughter, Shauna Bofill.
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