Regina Belle was born on the 17th July 1963, in Englewood, New Jersey USA, and is a singer and songwriter, best known for her award-winning duet with Peabo Bryson – “A Whole New World” – from Disney’s animated film “Aladdin” (1992). Her career started in the mid-1980s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Regina Belle is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Belle’s net worth is as high as $7 million, an amount earned through her successful career in music.
Regina Belle Net Worth $7 Million
Regina Belle was the daughter of Eugene and Lois Belle; she has a brother named Bernard. She was raised as a Baptist, and took her first music steps in Englewood’s Mount Calvary Baptist Church, singing in a gospel choir, having her first solo when she was only eight years old. As for her education, Belle finished Dwight Morrow High School, where she learned to play trombone, drums, and tuba. Afterwards, she studied opera at the Manhattan School of Music, and finally enrolled at Rutgers University, where she left her mark as the first female vocalist in the school’s jazz ensemble.
Besides gospel, she became interested in soul, jazz, pop, R&B, and adult contemporary genres. She lists musicians such as Billie Holiday, Phyllis Hyman, and Patti LaBelle among her main influences.
Belle’s career kicked off once she recorded a duet with The Manhattans, which led to her signing for Columbia Records. She released her debut album for them in 1987, entitled “All By Myself”, which spawned hit singles such as “So Many Tears”, and “Please Be Mine”. That same year, Belle began her long term successful collaboration with the singer Peabo Bryson, with whom she recorded four duets. Their first song, “Without You” (1987) was featured on the soundtrack for the comedy film “Leonard Part 6”, and reached No. 8 on US Adult Contemporary chart. Their third duet, “A Whole New World” from Disney’s 1992 animated film “Aladdin”, was even more successful, having been certified Gold, and reaching number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1993, and earning a Grammy Award. The song was featured on Belle’s third studio album, “Passions” (1993), which was certified platinum, and produced additional hits, such as “Dream in Color” and “If I Could”.
This album was followed by “Reachin’ Back” (1995), and “Believe in Me” (1998). She also had more successful duets with various artists, such as “Far Longer than Forever” in 1994, written for the animated film “The Swan Princess”, and released the same year. The song, which she sang with Jeffrey Osborne, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1995.
Starting in the 2000s, Belle turned more toward jazz, signing with independent label Peak-Concord Jazz, and releasing “Lazy Afternoon”, a standard jazz album in 2004. The album featured many jazz, pop, and soul standards, such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “If I Ruled the World”. Her eighth studio album, “Love Forever Shines” (2008) marked her turn to gospel, and it reached third position on the Billboard US Gospel chart. Her next album, “Higher” (2012), also focused on gospel, but wasn’t as successful as the previous one. Belle continues to tour actively, appearing with many notable music acts, such as Boney James, Paul Taylor, and Stephanie Mills, and so improving her net worth consistently.
Regarding her personal life, Belle has been married to former basketball player John Battle since 1991. Together, they have three children, while she also has a daughter from her previous marriage to saxophonist and flute player Horace Young.
