Bernard Belle

Bernard Belle (November 12, 1964 – June 23, 2022) was an American composer, producer, and musician. After starting his career as an R&B guitarist, Belle became known as a songwriter for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and a producer of gospel music.

Bernard Belle
Born(1964-11-12)November 12, 1964
OriginEnglewood, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 23, 2022(2022-06-23) (aged 57)
GenresNew jack swing, R&B, gospel
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • performer
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals, piano
Years active1984–2022

Career

Belle grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and performed as a musician while still a student at Dwight Morrow High School.[1]

Belle received his first break in the late 1980s. His sister, Regina Belle, a Grammy Award-winning singer who was providing background vocals for R&B group The Manhattans at the time, recommended him to play guitar for the group.

Bernard Belle is notable for his partnership with producer Teddy Riley and his collaborations with Michael Jackson. He is credited with writing and co-writing "Remember the Time",[2] "Privacy" and "Why You Wanna Trip on Me".

He began working with Teddy Riley in 1986. Together, they became the pioneers of the new jack swing era of music. He wrote and produced for, among others, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown,[3] Patti LaBelle, Aaron Hall, Keith Sweat, Al B. Sure!, and Today.

After dedicating his life to Christ in 1994, Belle still remained one of the most sought after producer/musicians in the Gospel music industry. He performed with Donnie McClurkin,[4] Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Tye Tribbett, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence, Smokie Norful, Hezekiah Walker and BeBe & CeCe Winans.

He was a recurring musician on the BET gospel shows Sunday Best and The Celebration of Gospel.

Belle's name appears on over 70 million records worldwide as a producer, writer, or musician. He received four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards, over a dozen ASCAP Awards, and nominations for Stella and GMA Dove Awards.

Personal life

Belle married his long time love Debra Belle in November 1995. Belle had five children.[5]

A longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, Belle died on June 23, 2022, at the age of 57 of congestive heart failure.[6][7]

Discography
Year Song Title Album/CD Artist(s) Credited as
1989 "You Found Another Guy" High Hat Boy George Composer
Stay with Me Regina Belle Producer
"Your Love Is Not True", "Sexy Lady" Today Today Producer
1990 "Let's Chill, Long Gone" The Future Guy Backing vocalist, producer, composer
"I Just Can't Handle It", "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" Hi-Five Hi-Five Composer, backing vocalist
"It's Time", "A Friend" Return The Winans Producer, composer
1991 "Let Me Know", "Tennis Anyone", "No Need to Worry", "My Happiness" New Formula Today Backing vocalist, producer
Voyce Boxing Voyce Boxing Remixing
"Remember the Time", "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" Dangerous Michael Jackson Composer
1992 "Get Away", "Two Can Play That Game", "One More Night", "Something in Common" Bobby Bobby Brown Composer, backing vocalist
1994 "In You" Here I Am Glenn Jones Composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer
1997 Baby Come To Me: The Best of Regina Belle Regina Belle Arranger
"If By Chance" Flame Patti LaBelle Composer
1998 "I Gotch U" Believe in Me Regina Belle Keyboards, programming, producer, mixing, composer
1999 "Nobody Like You" I Claim the Victory Doc Powell Composer
2001 "Johnny's Back" This Is Regina! Regina Belle Producer, instrumentation, composer
"Privacy" Invincible Michael Jackson Composer
2005 "The Chosen One" Ghetto Classics Jaheim Arranger, producer
2006 We Praise You The McClurkin Project Bass programming, guitar overdubs
2008 "Launch Out" Launch Out Project Rev. Stefanie R. Minatee Bass, engineer, musician
"God Is Good, Good To Be Loved" Love Forever Shines Regina Belle Arranger, programming, producer, musician, composer

References
  1. Spelling, Ian. "Playing the keys to success: Bernard Belle", (201) magazine, April 4, 2017. Accessed August 27, 2018. "Belle started playing in Reality, a band formed while he attended Englewood Junior High School. His sister, Regina – a Grammy Award-winning singer – joined the group. He continued to perform while at Dwight Morrow High School, and, in 1985, Regina paved the way for him to play in her new band, The Manhattans."
  2. "Bernard Belle". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  3. "Bernard Belle Credits". ARTISTdirect Music. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  4. "Bernard Belle > Credits". allmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  5. Staff. "Teaneck and Englewood native Regina Belle is thankful of her Bergen roots" Archived August 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, (201) magazine, August 31, 2012. Accessed June 17, 2016. "Belle's brother, Bernard Belle, who is a producer, writer and musician, lives in Teaneck."
  6. "Grammy Award-Winning Musician, Composer, Songwriter/Producer Bernard Belle, Brother of Regina Belle, Dead at 57", The Hype Magazine, June 24, 2022. Accessed June 26, 2022. "Born November 12, 1964, to the late Judge Belle and his mother, Lois Belle, who now resides in Atlanta, Bernard Belle was born and raised in his hometown of Englewood, and the neighboring town of Teaneck, New Jersey."
  7. Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Bernard Belle, brother of Regina Belle-Battle, dies
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