Denise Rich

President & Co-Founder

Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich has created an expansive body of work that embraces several musical genres and transcends cultural divides. Her songs span across generations and have been recorded by world-class artists from Mandy Moore to Natalie Cole. Multi-faceted and driven, Rich is recognized internationally as a serious and ardent philanthropist and entrepreneur.

Ms. Rich created Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research in 1996 in memory of her daughter, Gabrielle, who passed away at age 27 from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Since its inception, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation has awarded grants totaling $35 million to over 300 of the top physician-scientists in America.  Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation maintains its status as one of the largest non-governmental sources of grant support for blood cancer research in the United States.

Denise Rich hosts the signature fund raising event for the Foundation, the Angel Ball, to promote awareness and further fund these vital research initiatives.  The Angel Ball has become recognized as one of New York City’s top charity events with past honorees including: Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev; Dr. Daniel Vasella of Novartis Pharmaceutical, Naomi , H.H. Seikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Heloise Pratt, Howard Lutnick, Hugh Jackman, Clive Davis, The Kardashian Family, Jeff Gordon, Queen Noor of Jordan, Sean Parker, Harvey Spevak, Monte & Avery Lipman, Nile Rogers and Naomi Campbell.  Past Angel Ball performers and celebrity participants include: Jennifer Hudson, Pharrell, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Kool & the Gang, OneRepublic, Marc Anthony, Ludacris, Nelly, Smokey Robinson, Robin Thicke, T-Pain, Jamie Foxx and Flo Rida, Kim Kardashian and with President Bill Clinton serving as Honorary Chair at two past Angel Ball galas.

Ms. Rich is President and Songwriter of NYC-based independent music publishing company, Denise Rich Songs, writing and producing music of the highest quality across several genres. Ms. Rich’s songs resonate with different genres and cultures as she writes in English, French, Spanish and Italian. Her songs have been recorded by many respected and world-renowned artists including R&B icons Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, Latin pop sensations Marc Anthony and Lara Fabian, international superstar Celine Dion, legendary headliners Johnny Mathis and Diana Ross, art song interpreters like Duncan Sheik, and dance divas from Donna Summer to Amber. 

Her song “I Have Loved You” appeared on Jessica Simpson’s multi-platinum album In this Skin, “Candy” provided Mandy Moore with a Top Ten hit, and “Livin’ For Love” peaked at the top of the dance charts for Natalie Cole. “Aim Your Arrow High” helped earn a Grammy nomination (Contemporary Soul/Gospel) for the Tramaine Hawkins album To a Higher Place. Her song, “Don’t Waste Your Time,” a duet with musicians Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin, also earned her a Grammy nomination. She has written for many film projects, including Billy Porter’s rendition of “Love Is On The Way” in The First Wives Club, which inspired Celine Dion to record her triple-platinum version of the song. Rich also wrote “Love Is A Crime” for the film Chicagowhich was also featured on the film’s Grammy winning Soundtrack. Her music stands the test of time with a revival of one of her songs written and performed by Luther Vandross, recently newly recorded by Dionne Warwick for her I’m Backalbum, where the remix landed a number one Breakout Dance Song on the Billboard charts. Proving her continued songwriting longevity, her song “Love Will Set You Free” was sampled and featured in the Wale song “Set You Free” just released by Warner Records for the rapper’s sixth studio album.

One of Ms. Rich’s accomplishments includes being appointed to the board of the Clive Davis Recorded Music Program at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She also served on the boards of LIFEbeat (The Music Industry Fights AIDS), The Interfaith Center of New York, and The International Committee of the Guggenheim Museum.

It is her instinctive love of music that has propelled her through life as a successful songwriter, philanthropistand mother.