Rene Moore
Encyclopedia
René Moore is an American singer-songwriter and producer, and is more memorable musically for hits he produced with his soul co-singer Angela Winbush
as part of René & Angela
, including "I'll Be Good," "Save Your Love (For #1)," "Your Smile
," and "You Don't Have to Cry."
first met in 1979 in his hometown of Los Angeles, California
and began performing together as Rene & Angela later that year, recording a self-titled debut album. They would everntually begin to cultivate hit songs for others, including Stephanie Mills
and Kurtis Blow
. Subsequently, they became one of the most successful writer/producer duos in R&B history. René & Angela released their self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by Wall to Wall (1982), and Rise (1983), all on Capitol Records. During this period they had two moderate R&B hit singles, "I Love You More" and "My First Love". The two stopped working professionally together in 1986. They pursued successful solo careers amid legal disputes over creative rights to their work together, and others with which they collaborated as composers, songwriters, and producers. In spite of this, both Winbush and Moore continue to enjoy substantial success in their respective solo careers, with Moore going on to compose and produce hits for many major artists, most notably Michael Jackson
; and together they wrote and produced four songs for Janet Jackson
's first, self-titled album. Over the course of his career, Moore has been nominated for two Grammys: one for Song of the Year, Michael Jackson
's New Jack Swing-hit Jam (song) and a second for Producer of the Album of the Year, Michael Jackson
's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Moore released a solo album, Street Songz for Rufftown Entertainment Group, Inc. in 2004. Winbush has not been nominated for any major awards.
's 1982 self-titled debut album, Janet Jackson
. One of the songs, "Young Love
", became Jackson's first top ten R&B hit reaching number six on the chart. They also wrote successfully for Stephanie Mills
, (their "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love
", gave Mills her first-ever #1 R&B single, in 1985). Just prior to that, Rene & Angela decided to branch out and find a bigger fan base signing with Mercury Records
in 1984. They released their breakthrough album, A Street Called Desire in early 1985. Among the hit singles included on this classic album was their first R&B #1 with the dance single, "Save Your Love (For #1)", which included guest vocals from rapper Kurtis Blow
, making it besides Chaka Khan
's "I Feel For You
", one of the first songs to prominently feature a guest rapper as a featured performer. Other hit singles included the Top 5 hit single "I'll Be Good"; "Your Smile" was another R&B #1 hit while the subsequent "You Don't Have to Cry", hit Number Two in the beginning of 1986, followed by yet another Top 5 hit, "No How-No Way". Eventually A Street Called Desire sold over a million copies going platinum, but on the brink of their greatest success, tensions between Moore and Winbush had grown, and they dissolved the partnership. Moore went on to compose and produce hits most notably for, and with, Michael Jackson
.
(who sampled their "Imaginary Playmates" for his song "Imaginary Players"), The Notorious B.I.G.
(who featured Jay-Z
on his Rene & Angela sampled "I Love You More" for the song "I Love the Dough"), Foxy Brown (who sampled their "I'll Be Good" for her 1997 top ten hit, "I'll Be" which featured Jay-Z
; as well as their song "Secret Rendezvous" for her hit, "Bonnie and Clyde, Part 2"); Hip-Hop Group Junior M.A.F.I.A.
sampled Rene & Angela's "Your Smile" for their rap song "Backstabbers"; Female Rapper Sylk-E. Fyne
's 1998 Platinum hit "Romeo and Juliet" sampled Rene & Angela's R&B Top 5 hit "You Don't Have to Cry"; Sylk-E. Fyne
also sampled their Top 5 hit "Your Smile" for her song "Your Style"; additionally, Adina Howard
re-recorded their "You Don't Have to Cry" as a duet; and Avant
re-recorded the Rene & Angela ballad, "My First Love", with singer Keke Wyatt in 2000. Moore and former partner Winbush also shared the distinction for being one of the first R&B acts to prominently feature a rap act in a R&B song, sharing that distinction with Jody Watley
, Chaka Khan
and funk
band Cameo
.
Angela Winbush
Angela Winbush is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist.-Early life and career:...
as part of René & Angela
René & Angela
René & Angela were an 1980s R&B duo consisting of artist/producers René Moore and Angela Winbush. The group dissolved by the mid 1980s. Both went on to successful solo careers as performers, songwriters, and producers.-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:...
, including "I'll Be Good," "Save Your Love (For #1)," "Your Smile
Your Smile
"Your Smile" was the third single from René & Angela's album, Street Called Desire. "Your Smile" was the duo's second number-one single on Billboards R&B chart. It was also a minor hit on the Hot 100 peaking at number sixty-two. Along with the track, " Drive My Love", "Your Smile" was minor hit...
," and "You Don't Have to Cry."
Biography
Moore and singer Angela WinbushAngela Winbush
Angela Winbush is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist.-Early life and career:...
first met in 1979 in his hometown of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and began performing together as Rene & Angela later that year, recording a self-titled debut album. They would everntually begin to cultivate hit songs for others, including Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
and Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
. Subsequently, they became one of the most successful writer/producer duos in R&B history. René & Angela released their self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by Wall to Wall (1982), and Rise (1983), all on Capitol Records. During this period they had two moderate R&B hit singles, "I Love You More" and "My First Love". The two stopped working professionally together in 1986. They pursued successful solo careers amid legal disputes over creative rights to their work together, and others with which they collaborated as composers, songwriters, and producers. In spite of this, both Winbush and Moore continue to enjoy substantial success in their respective solo careers, with Moore going on to compose and produce hits for many major artists, most notably Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
; and together they wrote and produced four songs for Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's first, self-titled album. Over the course of his career, Moore has been nominated for two Grammys: one for Song of the Year, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's New Jack Swing-hit Jam (song) and a second for Producer of the Album of the Year, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Moore released a solo album, Street Songz for Rufftown Entertainment Group, Inc. in 2004. Winbush has not been nominated for any major awards.
A Street Called Desire
During Rene & Angela's early years, Moore and Winbush were asked to produce songs for Janet JacksonJanet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's 1982 self-titled debut album, Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson (album)
Janet Jackson is the self-titled debut album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on September 21, 1982 by A&M Records. Jackson's career as a recording artist was established by her father and manager Joseph Jackson, who arranged her recording contract with A&M Records.The album's...
. One of the songs, "Young Love
Young Love (Janet Jackson song)
"Young Love" was the first single from Janet Jackson's self-titled debut album. The song peaked at #64 on the Pop Charts and #6 on the R&B Charts, becoming her first top ten R&B single...
", became Jackson's first top ten R&B hit reaching number six on the chart. They also wrote successfully for Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
, (their "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love
I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love
"I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" is a song by R&B singer, Stephanie Mills, and is the second single from the singer's 1985 self-titled album. The song was written by Angela Winbush and René Moore, of the singing duo Rene & Angela....
", gave Mills her first-ever #1 R&B single, in 1985). Just prior to that, Rene & Angela decided to branch out and find a bigger fan base signing with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in 1984. They released their breakthrough album, A Street Called Desire in early 1985. Among the hit singles included on this classic album was their first R&B #1 with the dance single, "Save Your Love (For #1)", which included guest vocals from rapper Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
, making it besides Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's "I Feel For You
I Feel for You
"I Feel for You" is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album. It became a hit single in 1984 for female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her album, which was also called I Feel for You...
", one of the first songs to prominently feature a guest rapper as a featured performer. Other hit singles included the Top 5 hit single "I'll Be Good"; "Your Smile" was another R&B #1 hit while the subsequent "You Don't Have to Cry", hit Number Two in the beginning of 1986, followed by yet another Top 5 hit, "No How-No Way". Eventually A Street Called Desire sold over a million copies going platinum, but on the brink of their greatest success, tensions between Moore and Winbush had grown, and they dissolved the partnership. Moore went on to compose and produce hits most notably for, and with, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
Influence
Since starting out with Rene & Angela, Moore and Winbush have played and continue to play an influence on various R&B and hip-hop acts. In the latter genre, their music has been sampled by acts such as Jay-ZJay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
(who sampled their "Imaginary Playmates" for his song "Imaginary Players"), The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
(who featured Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
on his Rene & Angela sampled "I Love You More" for the song "I Love the Dough"), Foxy Brown (who sampled their "I'll Be Good" for her 1997 top ten hit, "I'll Be" which featured Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
; as well as their song "Secret Rendezvous" for her hit, "Bonnie and Clyde, Part 2"); Hip-Hop Group Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. is an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. The acronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., in the early 1990s and released their debut album,...
sampled Rene & Angela's "Your Smile" for their rap song "Backstabbers"; Female Rapper Sylk-E. Fyne
Sylk-E. Fyne
Sylk-E. Fyne is a female rapper from South Central Los Angeles and former member of the unreleased group G.B.M. from Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. She started rapping while in high school and, after getting a college degree, recorded her 1998 debut, Raw Sylk, on RCA...
's 1998 Platinum hit "Romeo and Juliet" sampled Rene & Angela's R&B Top 5 hit "You Don't Have to Cry"; Sylk-E. Fyne
Sylk-E. Fyne
Sylk-E. Fyne is a female rapper from South Central Los Angeles and former member of the unreleased group G.B.M. from Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. She started rapping while in high school and, after getting a college degree, recorded her 1998 debut, Raw Sylk, on RCA...
also sampled their Top 5 hit "Your Smile" for her song "Your Style"; additionally, Adina Howard
Adina Howard
Adina Howard is an American R&B singer who rose to prominence during the mid 1990s with her debut album, Do You Wanna Ride? and her debut single, "Freak Like Me". Howard is known for her sexual image and provocative songs...
re-recorded their "You Don't Have to Cry" as a duet; and Avant
Avant
Myron Avant , better known as Avant is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is best known for hits such as "Separated" , "My First Love," which one version features KeKe Wyatt, and "Read Your Mind"...
re-recorded the Rene & Angela ballad, "My First Love", with singer Keke Wyatt in 2000. Moore and former partner Winbush also shared the distinction for being one of the first R&B acts to prominently feature a rap act in a R&B song, sharing that distinction with Jody Watley
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
, Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band Cameo
Cameo (band)
Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
.