By Robert W. Mitchell
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of fans flocked to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) to see three-time Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Regina Belle perform her greatest songs including the widely popular “A Whole New World" from the 1992 Disney movie, “Aladdin.”
The audience sang along as Belle belted out love ballads and up tempo dance tracks in two separate performances at JBAB’s Bolling Club. The club provided patrons with a southern-styled soul food dinner and beverages before the show.
“She brought a lot of people out to the club. People who had not be here in years, came out tonight to here Regina sing,” said Belle fan Aurelia Glenn.
Long-time fans of Belle’s songs, Dennis Brown and his wife Tina, both came to JBAB for the first time for the performance.
“This was a surprise for my husband. He had no idea that I had been planning to take him to see his favorite singer tonight,” Mrs. Brown said.
Greg Willis, a program manager on the installation, described Belle as a “terrific vocalist” not just for her singing, but because she chose to sing for the military and District of Columbia residents at JBAB.
“Anybody singing for the military now, with what our country has gone through and what is it trying to do for other countries around the world, is a tremendous asset. It is shows that they understand just how much these people [military personnel and their families] give up for our country,” he said as Belle and her stage managers walked through a rehearsal session at the club.
The songstress performed fan favorites like “Baby Come to Me,” and “Make it Like it Was.” She invited male vocalist Orlando Dixon, a winner of the television talent competition show, the “Voice,” to join her in singing the Disney duet. Belle expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for those who serve in the armed forces.
“It takes a special kind of person that says I am going to dedicate myself to preserving my country, defending my country and taking care of people that you don’t even know, that goes a long way with a sister named Regina. Y’all keep defending and I’ll keep on singing,” she said.
Belle, an Englewood, New Jersey native and former military dependent with family ties to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, has performed before military audiences all around the world. In an exclusive one-on-one interview, Belle discussed her music, career and experiences performing for those in service to the country.
JBJ: Have you performed for the military in the past?
Belle: Yes, I performed in Germany in Wiesbaden. I performed for some generals there at the base and some other officials, I am not really sure. But I had a great time. It was my first time being in Germany and it was a real honor to be able to perform for our troops and anybody who is in service for our country.
JBJ: As far as singing here in D.C., have you sung for the president before or any heads of state?
Regina: Yes. I performed for President George W. Bush years ago. I think there may be some pictures floating around on the Internet of that. It was an event honoring Dr. Bobby Jones and Pastor Shirley Caesar and I was there for that. That was a huge honor, especially for those two people who have done so much for gospel music. That was my first time being in the White House, so I was excited about that.
JBJ: When you were contacted to come and sing at JBAB, what made you decide to do that?
Regina: As I said before, it is always an honor to be able to perform for troops, it always an honor to perform for anybody who has taken it upon themselves to say, ‘I am going to give my life for my country.’ I have a very special place in my heart for people like that. I did inform my people that we really need to do something, we need to have an opportunity to go before the troops and just say thank you for what they are doing, and for what they have done, to let them know that their work is not unappreciated, even the ones we have lost defending our country. You have no idea what it means to us. There are people who really care and actually take the time out to pray and reflect on the work the troops have done.
JBJ: Do you have family members in the military?
Regina: Yes. One of which I was very close too was my cousin who has passed away. He was a Marine for 20 years. I also have a first cousin, who is a former Marine and my dad was in the Korean War. So we have quite a few people in our family who have served the country.
JBJ: So now I want to talk about your music. You have a career that spans generations. What would you attribute your longevity to, your being in the music industry for so long?
Belle: For one, being true to what it is that I do. The other is always trying to keep it a little fresh. Even though, with what I do, I don’t necessarily want to do it the same way every time. Also, I want to be mindful that people don’t have to pay to see you perform. So I always want to extend that gracious attitude to my fans, to say thank you for coming out to see me. More importantly, I want to be at my best every time they come. If they came to see Regina Belle, then I shouldn’t show up as Sade [laughing]. It’s okay to give tribute to Sade and Aretha Franklin and some of the others who I absolutely pay to tribute to in my show, but I do it from a Regina Belle perspective. I think people like that.
JBJ: Music has changed over the years. Now you have a whole different sound, a different vibe. What is your take on new singers these days, like Alicia Keys and others?
Regina: I love Alicia Keys. I love what she does. I love the fact that some of the younger singers, what we call the ‘new jacks’ have taken it upon themselves to not only be musicians, but to sing and write their own songs. That is really huge because they understand that that brings in more of residual payment as opposed to just operating from the stage. Because there comes a point when you no longer have a number one record or your record is not selling like it used to sell. There has to be something else that you can do in order to bring home the change, bring home the bacon. I like the fact that the artists of today are a little bit more self-packaged. It presents a greater opportunity for them to do more things outside of just performing.
JBJ: Now if you could go back in time, perhaps see yourself maybe 10 or 20 years ago, knowing what you know today, what kind of advice would you give yourself? I know it’s a weird question, but . . .
Belle: Hmm… that’s hugely weird [laughing out loud]. I don’t think anybody has ever asked me that question before. I probably would tell myself to be prepared for whatever. There are some things that I wasn’t prepared for; some events that took place that knocked me off guard. I would probably tell myself to have more of an open mind. If you would’ve asked me 20 years ago about doing a gospel record, I would have been like, ‘Hmm, okay, pass.’ And for a lot of years, I did [pass on that]. I didn’t understand the calling and depth of doing such a project. Looking back] I may have done it a little earlier, had I known the joy I would have gotten from it. But then I may not have done what I did, so I don’t know [she laughs]. I don’t know that is a really hard call.
JBJ: Well, we really appreciate your time. I know you are such a busy woman. It has really been an honor to talk to you for this story, we really appreciate you.
Belle: Thank you so much.
JBJ: That’s all the questions I have unless you want to add something else.
Belle: I just really want to thank the troops for making the decision to defend this country and to defend me. That really means a lot to me to know that there is somebody standing in my place to do what I could not do. That means the world to me.
JBJ: Oh, I have one more question. Have you performed the national anthem before?
Belle: Oh please, many times. I even performed the anthem for a Miami Heat game, but to no avail.
JBJ: So you’re a Heat fan?
Belle: Yeah. But [singing the national anthem] that’s something that I do often in many places.
JBJ: Okay, well thank you. God Bless.
Belle: Thank you.