Photo: Bernard Belle (from his Facebook page) | Bernard Belle (November 12, 1964 – June 23, 2022) was an American composer, producer, and musician [mostly keys]. 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.
Belle grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and performed as a musician while still a student at Dwight Morrow High School.
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”, “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, 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, 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.
Belle married his long time love Debra Belle in November 1995. Belle had five children: Asia Adams, Jahmel, Tyrone, Tyrell, and Ny’Jeana.
A longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, Belle died on June 23, 2022, at the age of 57.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Belle
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
Our music community continues to lose our talented artists to COVID-19, suicides – staggering loses. We are going to miss them so much. If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
June 2022
29: Blanka Kulínská, 87, Czech choral conductor (Bambini di Praga) and teacher.
23: Bernard Belle, 57, American musician, music producer and songwriter (“I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)”, “Remember the Time”); Arkady Gartsman, 75, Ukrainian songwriter (Treasure Island), screenwriter and actor; Massimo Morante, 69, Italian guitarist (Goblin); Yuri Shatunov, 48, Russian singer (Laskovyi Mai), heart attack; Lelu Vasilescu, 66, Romanian drummer; Chumei Watanabe, 96, Japanese composer (Mazinger Z, Steel Jeeg), heart failure.
22: Patrick Adams, 72, American record producer, music arranger and composer (The Universal Robot Band, Musique); Paulo Diniz, 82, Brazilian singer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2022
Bernard Belle, Songwriter for Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and More, Dies // Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths
