Regina Belle and Adoption

1964 -

Singer

New Jersey native Regina Belle was born on July 17, 1964. She grew up singing Gospel and Soul while also playing multiple instruments. She then attended Rutgers University, where she studied both Jazz and Opera. Her big break came when she was introduced to the Manhattans and wound up touring with them and dueting with Gerald Alston on the group's "Where Did We Go Wrong" from their 1986 Back to Basics album.

She recorded her first solo LP, All By Myself, the next year, and her deep sultry voice wrapped itself around the opening single, "Show Me the Way," and took it near the top of the Soul charts. She did even better two years later with the album Stay With Me and the single "Baby Come to Me," both of which hit #1.

Belle also became a sought-after duet partner, working with Peabo Bryson on "Without You" (from the Bill Cosby movie, Leonard Part 6) and the #1 across the board hit "A Whole New World" (from Disney's Aladdin), and with Kool & the Gang's J.T. Taylor on the smash Soul cut "All I Want Is Forever.

In July 2004, Belle released her second Peak CD, Lazy Afternoon, an album of Jazz and Soul standards produced by George Duke.

The disc is the most difficult vocal challenge of Belle's career and serves as a real test of her interpretive skills.

Belle has suffered three miscarriages over the last five years, the most recent one shortly after her Apollo appearance.

Working hard to promote her new album, Lazy Afternoon, on jazz stations around the country, and living in Atlanta with her husband, former NBAplayer John Battle, and their 5 children [daughter Tiy and son Jayln are both adopted].