With a 3.5 out of 5 star rating, Steve Leggett of Allmusic claimed "Tender Togetherness featured an electric jazz-funk hybrid sound that packed a good deal more punch and brightness than its predecessor, 1979's Betcha. Produced by Earth, Wind & Fire's Larry Dunn (EW&F's "After the Love Has Gone" is given a treatment here), and featuring a subtle, almost Latin feel, the album bounces and bubbles along on an almost continuous joyful light R&B groove."[3]
- Philip Bailey – Percussion, vocals, background vocals
- Roland Bautista - Guitar, electric guitar
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - Drums
- Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion
- Lynn Davis - Vocals
- Rahmlee Michael Davis – Trumpet, flugelhorn
- Eduardo del Barrio - Piano, electric piano, Fender Rhodes
- David Duke – French horn
- Steven Dunn – Percussion, drums, Moog bass
- Nathan East - Bass guitar, electric guitar
- Mike Harris - Trumpet, flugelhorn
- Jerry Hey – Trumpet, flugelhorn
- Marlena Jeter - Vocals
- Jeff Johnson – Synthesizer
- Ralph Johnson - Percussion
- Gwen Matthews - Vocals
- Byron Miller - Bass guitar
- Denzil Miller - Piano, electric piano, clavinet, Fender Rhodes
- Sidney Muldrow – French horn
- Don Myrick - Alto saxophone
- Tom Pigott Smith - Synthesizer
- Dianne Reeves - Vocals
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. - Bass trombone
- Louis Satterfield - Trombone
- Stanley Turrentine - Tenor saxophone
- Fred White - Percussion, drums
- Andrew Woolfolk - Tenor saxophone
- Philip Bailey – Arranger
- Roland Bautista - Arranger
- George del Barrio – Conductor, string arrangements
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - Arranger, drums
- Lynn Davis - Vocal arrangement
- Rahmlee Michael Davis – Horn arrangements
- Eduardo del Barrio - Arranger
- Larry Dunn - Arranger, producer, vocal arrangement
- Steven Dunn – Arranger
- Mike Harris - Horn arrangements
- Denzil Miller - Arranger, vocal arrangement
- Don Myrick - Horn arrangements
- Louis Satterfield - Horn arrangements