Singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer Angela Winbush's credentials include solo hits such as her R&B number one "Angel"; hits as half of the singing duo Rene & Angela and their hits "Save Your Love (For #1)" and "Your Smile"; and hits she wrote for Stephanie Mills and the Isley Brothers. Besides Rene Moore, Winbush's early collaborators included Rufus' bassist Bobby Watson, engineer/producer Bruce Swedien, and George Duke. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Winbush grew up singing gospel music in the church choir and learned to play piano as a child. She had no intentions of pursuing a professional music career when she attended Washington, D.C.'s Howard University, where she majored in architecture. To earn money to pay expenses, she began singing on recording sessions and formed a vocal trio that opened for Van McCoy and Al Jarreau. She became interested in the music business and changed her major to music education.