Back in the day, every time we heard Angela Bofill sang her 1979 classic, “I Try,” we didn’t just hear her beautiful voice, we felt her pain. The broken hearted pain she sang about in every lyric of that song, touched us with every syllable. Fast forward to today, and although the 67 year old songstress is just as beautiful as she ever was inside and out, we once again feel her pain when we witness the everyday struggles she faces due to her crippling health condition. See the details of what she’s been going through below…
THE HEALTH ISSUES THAT FOREVER CHANGED ANGELA BOFILL’S LIFE
STROKES TOOK ANGELA BOFILL’S SINGING VOICE, LEFT HER PARTIALLY PARALYZED
In 2006 Angela Bofill suffered a stroke, which she was recovering from. But in 2007 a second stroke struck the songstress, leaving her paralyzed on her left side. The stroke also took her beautiful alto singing voice and affected her speech, causing her to speak in somewhat choppy patterns.
SHE HAS KIDNEY COMPLICATIONS, ON DIALYSIS
In an interview with Essence, Angela Bofill also confirmed that she’d been on dialysis three times per week, for the past five years:
“When I was 4 years old, they removed my right kidney. And for years and years I didn’t need dialysis. Eventually, one kidney working for two kidneys [took its toll].”
One thing that neither the two strokes, nor kidney complications couldn’t take was Bofill’s positive, humorous personality, as well as her fighter spirit. She’s refused to feel sorry for herself, and in 2010 she and her manager, Rich Engel, created “The Angela Bofill Experience.” It’s a concert that Bofill skillfully narrates with interesting, funny stories about her life, as her band and her musician/singer friends, such as Freddie Jackson, Will Downing, Maysa Leak, Melba Moore, Phil Perry, and others, sing her hit songs. The fans and Bofill LOVE it, and Bofill once said this in an interview about her shows:
“Any time a crowd comes to see me, I’m surprised. No sing no more and still people come [to see me perform]. Wow. Impressed.”
CHECK OUT THESE FUN FACTS ABOUT MS. BOFILL
ANGELA BOFILL WAS A HEALTH FANACTIC
Many people were so surprised that Angela Bofill had such a major medical crisis because throughout the years, she was the one who always followed a very healthy eating pattern and often encouraged others around her to do the same.
ANGELA BOFILL WROTE “I TRY” FOR HER EX-BOYFRIEND/DRUMMER, BUDDY WILLIAMS
Angela affectionately calls jazz drummer, Buddy Williams, a “jive a$$” in reference to how she says he did her wrong back in the day. She wrote her 70’s hit, “I Try,” after Williams allegedly broke her heart, but the good news is that they’re cool now.
BOFILL IS NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN
Contrary to popular belief, Angela Bofill is not African American, though she is in fact still of African descent. She’s actually born to an Afro-Puerto Rican mother and a Cuban father.
WHO’S CARING FOR ANGELA BOFILL
Bofill currently lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and four grandkids:
“God bless ’em…A lot of children don’t take care of their parents, just put ’em in a nursing home and “Bye-bye.” Latin and African-American people are accustomed to respect their elders.” -Angela Bofill
SHE’S STILL MOVING FORWARD
One thing that neither the two strokes, nor kidney complications couldn’t take was Bofill’s positive, humorous personality, as well as her fighter spirit. She’s refused to feel sorry for herself, and in 2010 she and her manager, Rich Engel, created “The Angela Bofill Experience.” It’s a concert that Bofill skillfully narrates with interesting, funny stories about her life, as her band and her musician/singer friends, such as Freddie Jackson, Will Downing, Maysa Leak, Melba Moore, Phil Perry, and others, sing her hit songs. The fans and Bofill LOVE it, and Bofill once said this in an interview about her shows:
“Any time a crowd comes to see me, I’m surprised. No sing no more and still people come [to see me perform]. Wow. Impressed.”
Wishing Ms. Bofill much happiness and great health going forward. We’ll also keep bangin’ her classic music on the regular.
