♪If I could
I’d protect you
From the sadness
In your eyes
Give you courage
In a world
Of compromise
Yes, I would ♪
Definitely reminiscent of the great Whitney Houston. Just discovered the great Regina Belle, from New Jersey. Her song “If I Could” was released in 1993 under Peak- Concord Jazz Label. Such a powerful vocalist and song.
“Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey. It was at Englewood’s Mount Calvary Baptist Church, and then Paterson’s Friendship Baptist Church (presided over by Belle’s uncle, the Reverend Fred Belle), that Belle began attracting attention with her vocal abilities. She sang her first solo in church at the age of eight. She attended Dwight Morrow High School, where she studied trombone, tuba and steel drums.[8] After graduation, Belle studied opera at the Manhattan School of Music. She attended Rutgers University and became the first female vocalist with the school’s jazz ensemble. Belle’s musical influences include Phyllis Hyman, Billie Holiday, Shirley Caesar, Patti LaBelle, and Nancy Wilson.[9] She was introduced to the Manhattans by New York radio DJ Vaughn Harper and began working as their opening act. She recorded the duet “Where Did We Go Wrong” with the group on their Back to Basics album, which helped to attract the attention of Columbia Records. She recorded a second duet, “Maybe Tomorrow (Four Tops song)“, which appeared on the B-side of “Where Did We Go Wrong”. They eventually signed her to a record deal.” – Wikipedia
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