Within the historical past of standard music, Thom Bell is considered one of many biggest producers of all time. With greater than 10 platinum albums and greater than 30 gold information, his musical ingenuity helped to form R&B, soul and disco, and influenced numerous producers who got here after him.
His signature orchestral preparations created magic and timeless hits for the likes of Delfonics, the Stylistics, the Spinners, the O’Jays, Johnny Mathis, Dionne Warwick, Elton John and James Ingram, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell and Dusty Springfield, amongst many others.
His hits embody: “La-La (Means I Love You)” (1968), “Didn’t I (Blow Your Thoughts This Time)” (1970), “Prepared or Not Right here I Come (Can’t Disguise From Love)” (1968), You Are The whole lot” (1971), “Betcha by Golly, Wow” (1972), “I’ll Be Round” (1972), “Might It Be I’m Falling in Love” (1972), “Break As much as Make Up” (1973), “One in all a Sort (Love Affair)” (1973), “Ghetto Baby” (1973), “You Make Me Really feel Model New” (1974), and “Then Got here You” (with Dionne Warwick) (1974).
After a monumental profession, he retired to Bellingham, Washington. Bell handed away on the age of 79 on December 22, 2022.
Dyana Williams, co-founder of Black Music Month and legendary media character, lauded her former colleague and pal for his immense contributions to the music business.
“One in all THE most prolific songwriters, arrangers and producers of traditional, timeless music is Thom Bell,” Williams instructed Billy Penn. “Once I consider candy, poetic, enchanting romantic music, Thom Bell and his frequent collaborator, lyricist Linda Creed, come to thoughts. So long as humanity exists, Thom Bell’s music will proceed to be a soundtrack for dwelling.”
In celebration of Black Music Month, we pay tribute to one of many biggest musicians ever and a proud son of Philly. Listed below are 11 Issues You May Not Have Identified About Thom Bell.
A local of Jamaica
Many will not be conscious that Thom Bell was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 26, 1943. He later relocated to Philadelphia together with his dad and mom on the age of 4. He was certainly one of 10 siblings.
He was classically skilled
Bell’s dad and mom had been completed musicians in their very own proper and created an atmosphere the place he cultivated his personal musical skills. By the point he was 5, he was taking piano classes with desires of changing into a conductor. However after listening to Little Anthony and the Imperials’ mournful “Tears On My Pillow,” Bell knew that he wished to create this type of music.
“I fell in love with the entire manufacturing,’’ Bell instructed the Seattle Instances. “I listened to the background, the bass, much more than simply the lyrics.”
His classical background closely influenced his orchestral preparations.
Fashioned a doo-wop group with Kenny Gamble
As a teen, Bell shaped a short-lived doo-wop group with Kenny Gamble known as “Kenny and Tommy” after which “Kenny Gamble & the Romeos.” Whereas they achieved native success, it will not evaluate to the impression and success that they’d get pleasure from years later.
He was Chubby Checker’s conductor
One in all Bell’s first skilled jobs within the music business was working as an arranger and conductor for rock & roll icon Chubby Checker. Together with conducting his touring band, he additionally wrote a few of Checker’s music. “I used to be a author for his publishing firm and in addition writing music for a few of his reveals and doing somewhat conducting for him, ” Bell mentioned in an interview with WHYY’s “Recent Air.”
One of many architects of “The Sound of Philadelphia”
Bell, alongside Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, had been the artistic geniuses behind the Philadelphia Sound that reigned supreme by means of the late Sixties into the ‘70s. The style was identified for its refined songwriting, lush preparations and unforgettable lyrics. Whereas Gamble and Huff primarily ran teh iconic Philadelphia Worldwide Data (PIR) label, the “Mighty Three” refers to their music publishing firm, Mighty Three Music. Bell labored with artists at numerous file corporations.
His co-writer was Linda Creed
Whereas Bell helmed the manufacturing, his songwriting accomplice was Linda Creed, additionally a Philadelphia native. She was the lyricist behind quite a few hits, together with The Stylistics, together with “You Are The whole lot,” “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” and “You Make Me Really feel Model New.”
“In these days, folks didn’t significantly recognize a Black and white crew,” Bell mentioned of his partnership with Creed. The 2 collaborated for 9 years, till Creed handed away from breast most cancers, on the age of 37, in 1986. Bell was at her facet till the top. “We had been like brother and sister,’’ Bell recalled.
“Rubberband Man” was written for his son
One of many traditional songs from The Spinners was “Rubberband Man.” Bell penned it with Creed, and at first it was known as “The Fats Man,” a nickname that classmates had held on Bell’s son Mark. Bell hoped to vary the notion of this nickname by composing a music a couple of huge man who may actually transfer on the dance flooring. “It was written for large individuals who had been hip, to vary the entire concept of an individual being massive, being sloppy, sluggish,” Bell recalled.
Bob Babbitt, the legendary bass participant who performed on quite a few Motown tracks, performs the signature bassline on the music. To attain the distinctive sound, Babbitt ran the instrument by means of a tool he known as a “funk field.” Sung by the late nice Phillppe Wynne, “Rubberband Man” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 in 1976.
“I don’t do R&B, I do music”
Whereas steeped within the Black music custom, Bell defied all of the labels that will be positioned on his music. “Invariably, when different producers and musicians would say that my sounds had been odd for R&B, I’d simply inform them, ‘I don’t do R&B — I do music,’ ” Bell mentioned.
He was an completed chef
Together with having the talents to cook dinner up timeless hits within the studio, Bell may actually cook dinner within the kitchen, too. An enthusiastic chef, Bell collected greater than 1,500 cookbooks at his dwelling in Washington state. He and his spouse not often went to eating places due to his mastery of Asian delicacies.
He gave most of his memorabilia to his household
In a profession spanning greater than six a long time, Bell garnered his justifiable share of awards over time. Curiously, he didn’t hold any memorabilia in his dwelling, however gave his assortment to his youngsters and grandkids. “That’s one other life,” Bell mentioned. “Good reminiscences, however I’m completed with it now.”
Crucial acclaim
All through his exceptional profession, Bell obtained many accolades. He was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2006 and the Musicians Corridor of Fame in 2016. He additionally received a Grammy Award for Producer of the Yr, Non-Classical, in 1975, and obtained a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy. In 2025, he will probably be posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.