My First Love

"My First Love" is a 1983 R&B Ballad recorded by R&B duo René & Angela on the Capitol label and later a 2000 hit cover by Avant and singer Keke Wyatt.

When originally composed by René Moore and Angela Winbush, they had planned to produce it as a song for Janet Jackson's self-titled debut solo LP but Jackson reportedly turned it down.

Undaunted, the duo recorded the song themselves as a song on their third LP together, Rise. Before "My First Love", their biggest hit up to that point as a recording duo was the 1981 dance single "I Love You More", which peaked at number fourteen on the R&B singles chart.

When released in early 1983, the song gave them their biggest success up to that point reaching number twelve on the R&B chart setting a precedent for the duo's later hit ballads such as "Your Smile" and "You Don't Have to Cry".

Avant's re-recording of the song helped to send the song back to the charts in 2000 reaching number four on the R&B charts and number twenty-six on the pop charts making it Rene & Angela's most successful recording as songwriters and prompted a brief comeback for Winbush who would take Wyatt's place in singing the song with Avant during a taping of BET's 106 and Park to surprised audience members that year.

Original version credits

• All vocals by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush
• Keyboards and synthesizers by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush
• Produced and written by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush

Avant version credits

• All vocals by Avant and Keke Wyatt
• Produced by Steve Huff

Sampled version

René & Angela's version of the song has been sampled in Masspike Miles - Hurt You So Good feat. Rick Ross, It was produced by the Australian Hip-Hop Producer M-Phazes.

• All vocals by Miles Wheeler and William Leonard Roberts II
• Produced by Mark Landon