UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 24, Page 5
March 14, 1996
In concert; Regina Belle to perform in Bob Carpenter Center

     Regina Belle, who has recorded two gold albums and the platinum
single duet of "A Whole New World" with Peabo Bryson, will bring her
soulful singing to the Bob Carpenter Center on Friday, April 12. The 8
p.m. concert will open with Howard Hewett.
     Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 15, at $15 for
University students with ID, $20 for UD faculty and staff and $25 for
the general public. There is a limit of three on student tickets.
Tickets will be sold at the Carpenter Center and Perkins Student
Center box offices and by phone through Ticketmaster at 984-2000 or
(215) 336-2000. A convenience charge may apply.
     The concert is being presented in conjunction with the Center for
Black Culture's 20th anniversary celebration and the annual Black Arts
Festival.
     Belle's newest CD, Reachin' Back, is a love letter to the music
that inspired her life and career-the music of the 70's, from "Could
It Be I'm Falling in Love" to "You Make Me Feel Brand New" to "You Are
Everything." Featured are No. 1 hits of that decade originally
recorded by Teddy Pendergrass, the Stylistics, the O'Jays, the Main
Ingredient, the Delfonics and the Spinners. Belle is the first woman
to make a whole album that covers this particular musical terrain.
     Belle's previous CD, Passion, featured "A Whole New World" from
Aladdin, as well as love songs and ballads, including a version of
Billie Holiday's classic "My Man." "Love songs, ballads, have always
been my strongest point," she says. Artists who joined her on the
recording included Bryson, Kirk Whalum and Barry White.
     Also on that recording are two songs, "Dream in Color" and "One
Love," that present Belle's heartfelt plea for much-needed
understanding among different races and cultures. "I studied black
history in college, and I've always felt a definite allegiance to
African-Americans," Belle said. "As I've gotten older, my whole way of
thinking has changed and I understand that for all of us to be a part
of this society, we all have to learn to work with people from
different cultures. In order to show respect for each other's culture,
we need to learn and know about the culture."
     Exploring a wide range of musical territory has been an integral
part of Belle's artistry since she began considering a musical career
in her early teens. The New Jersey-born singer was listening to gospel
music greats like Inez Andrews and Shirley Caeser during her formative
years; watching TV shows like Soul Train, American Bandstand and the
Grammy Awards for further inspiration; and learning to play the
trombone, tuba and steel drums while still in high school. She joined
the school band to play R&B and later, jazz.
     After winning $25 for singing the Emotions' "Don't Ask My
Neighbors" at a high school concert, she began performing at local
fashion shows and weddings. A scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan
School of Music gave Belle the opportunity to study voice seriously,
and during a stint at Rutgers University, she became the first
vocalist to sing with the music department's jazz ensemble.
     Performing in and around New York's Greenwich Village during her
college days, her talents came to the attention of R&B hitmakers the
Manhattans. She joined the group on the road while it opened for the
likes of Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Patti Labelle. During her
two years with the group, Belle got to record on its 1986 Columbia
album, Back To Basics.
     Through the Manhattans' association with Columbia, Belle came to
the attention of label executives who signed her in 1987. The release
of her debut recording, All By Myself, yielded the hit singles "Show
Me The Way" and "So Many Tears."
     Her second CD, Stay With Me, followed in 1989 and went gold on
the strength of "Baby, Come To Me," an R&B smash, and the hits "Make
It Like It Was" and "This Is Love."