Angela Stribling, whose voice became a fixture of Washington radio and BET television, died Saturday at 58 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Her husband said she passed away peacefully at home with him and her sister beside her. Stribling was the first woman to host WHUR’s Original Quiet Storm, a jazz singer who performed internationally, and a familiar face to viewers of BET’s entertainment and jazz programs.
Her husband, Ken Washington, announced her death in a statement released by WHUR on Sunday, September 27th. The station had been home to some of Stribling’s best-known work, including her late-night program “Pillow Talk.” Washington said a celebration of her life would be held in Washington, D.C., with the date and venue to be announced. He and Stribling’s sister, Darlene, were with her when she died.
“Angela Marie Stribling passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 26,” Washington said in the statement. “Her sister Darlene and I were by her side.” Washington said she had battled brain cancer for two years. WHUR described her as a broadcaster whose warmth carried through whether she was hosting a show, interviewing a guest or singing onstage.
Stribling’s place in Washington radio history was tied to the Original Quiet Storm, the music format that began at Howard University’s WHUR in 1976 with Melvin Lindsey. She became its first female host and later remained connected to listeners through “Pillow Talk,” which paired music with conversations about relationships and everyday life. In its statement announcing her death, WHUR recalled both her work on the air and her close friendship with Lindsey.
That friendship also carried over to television. Stribling and Lindsey hosted BET’s “Screen Scene” together and co-hosted “On Time” on Baltimore’s WJZ-TV. Stribling spent four years hosting “Screen Scene,” BET’s entertainment news program, before helping launch BET Jazz. As NBC4 Washington reported, her broadcasting career made her a pioneering figure at both WHUR and BET.
At BET Jazz, Stribling hosted “Jazz Central” alongside musicians Ramsey Lewis and Lou Rawls. She also hosted “BET Jazz Discovery” and “BET Jazz Scene,” giving her a role in several of the network’s early jazz programs. Her Baltimore television credits included reporting for “Evening Magazine” as well as co-hosting “On Time.” Those jobs followed her start in Washington as a news intern at WTTG-TV and WOL-AM.
See the Fox 5 DC Memorial for her here:
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Stribling’s connection to jazz extended beyond interviewing its performers. Classically trained from an early age, she built a singing career that took her across the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. She shared the stage with Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. Her work as a vocalist ran alongside her broadcasting career, bringing audiences face to face with a performer many had first come to know by voice.
WHUR General Manager Sean Plater remembered Stribling as someone who made colleagues and listeners feel welcome. In the station’s tribute, he described her kindness and the encouragement she offered others, as well as the career she built across radio, television and music. The station also remembered her infectious laugh and willingness to encourage others. Washington said Stribling’s celebration of life will take place in Washington, D.C. The family hasn’t yet announced when or where it will be held.
Featured image: screengrab from the embedded video.