Posted on 12/22/2022 7:19:16 PM PST by nickcarraway
Thom Bell, the Jamaican-born producer, arranger, songwriter, and pillar of ’70s Philadelphia soul, has died. The news was confirmed by Philadelphia radio station WDAS-FM. Bell was best known for his work in the “Mighty Three” with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; together, the trio created what became known as the “Sound Of Philadelphia.” He was 79.
Born in Jamaica in 1941, Bell moved to Philadelphia as a child. He studied classical music, and as a teen sang with Gamble, Huff, and Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates. His first major break in soul music was with Cameo Records, where he worked as a session player and arranger. In the mid-’60s, Bell was introduced to the Delfonics, and he produced two songs for them, “La-La (Means I Love You)” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” the second of which was nominated for a Grammy in 1970.
Bell also joined up with Gamble and Huff, who ran the record label Philadelphia International Records. The three men formed a music publishing company, Mighty Three Music, and Bell arranged for acts such as Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & The Drells, the O’Jays, and Dusty Springfield. Bell also joined Gamble and Huff’s production company.
In the ’70s, Bell produced for the Stylistics and teamed up with Philly’s own Linda Creed. Together, they became the area’s premier soul songwriting duo, writing hits such as “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart),” “You Are Everything,” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “Break Up To Make Up,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” and “I’m Stone In Love With You.”
By 1972, Bell produced former Motown band the Spinners for Atlantic Records; the collaboration was so successful, it lasted for seven years and eight albums. Bell produced hits like “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” “Games People Play,” and “The Rubberband Man.” In 1974, Bell won the Grammy for Best Producer Of The Year.
In 1977, Bell recorded The Thom Bell Sessions with Elton John, though the EP was not released until 1979.
In the mid-’70s, Bell worked with Dionne Warwick (1974’s #1 “Then Came You,” a song Bell commissioned for Warwick and the Spinners), Johnny Mathis, Billy Paul, Ronnie Dyson, and Anthony & The Imperials. In the early ’80s, he produced Deniece Williams’ Top 10 remake of the Royalettes’ “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle.” In 1990, he produced James Ingram’s “I Don’t Have the Heart,” which became his second #1 pop hit. Other artists Bell produced in the ’80s included the Temptations, Phyllis Hyman, and Dee Dee Bridgwater.
More recently, in 2008 Bell announced he would compose a piece for the Philadelphia Orchestra, as past Orchestra members had played in MFSB, the house band featured on numerous Bell productions. Likewise, in 2017, Bell was honored by the Recording Academy at the Grammy Salute to Music Legends.
In February 2022, it was announced that the story of Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell would be chronicled in a new feature documentary, The Sound Of Philadelphia, directed by Sam Pollard.
“When I write, I make sure that my introductions grab you from the first note. I write to grab you; to give you my true feelings,” Bell told Consequence last year. “I don’t want to tell you a love story and only tell you part of a love story. I want to give a complete story. That’s how can always tell one of my arrangements.”
Good question.
I love listening to 70’s R&B
Another great Philadelphia Sound song is Lou Rawls’ “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”.
At least it wasn’t Afternoon Delight...
Aaaaaaaa-aaaaaa-aaaaaafternoon....
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮
Made one wish a Leo Sayer song would come on...
🤣🤣🤣
I hated Long Tall Glasses at first but would rather listen to it than the above
Yes, a real talent. RIP.
Those Emogis look like fun.
C’mon man, Rick Dees was the master of one hit wonders. Quack quack
Love Rubberband Man
Collaborating with different lyricists, Thom Bell wrote the music and did the arrangements for all the best songs by the Delfonics and Stylistics......from La La La Means I Love You and Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time, to Betcha By Golly Wow, People Make The World Go Round, and many others.
He was considered the Black Burt Bachrach, and certainly lived up to the name.
Of all the great music I heard on the radio during my youth, nothing hits me harder than Philly soul. Not a lot of great albums, but tons of brilliant, timeless singles.
With all that being said, I must add that prior to the COVID vax rollout, two of the greatest R&B partnerships were all still alive. Motown’s Holland Dozier Holland, and Philly soul’s Mighty 3 of Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell.
Bell and Lamont Dozier both died within a months of each other in 2022......jus’ sayin’.
Smiling Phases was Motown.
That's the undisputed truth!
Loved his music.
Absolutely, my Friend of Distinction!
Touché!
😬😬😬
Rick Dees was a great DJ back then
Now, as far as singing......🤣
Rubberband Man was one of the great 70s songs that was in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy.
The Spinners was/is one of my old time favorites.
Thanks for all the great songs!
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