In the history of popular music, Thom Bell is regarded as one of the greatest producers of all time. With more than 10 platinum albums and more than 30 gold records, his musical ingenuity helped to shape R&B, soul and disco, and influenced countless producers who came after him.
His signature orchestral arrangements 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, among many others.
His hits include: “La-La (Means I Love You)” (1968), “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” (1970), “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love)” (1968), You Are Everything” (1971), “Betcha by Golly, Wow” (1972), “I’ll Be Around” (1972), “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (1972), “Break Up to Make Up” (1973), “One of a Kind (Love Affair)” (1973), “Ghetto Child” (1973), “You Make Me Feel Brand New” (1974), and “Then Came You” (with Dionne Warwick) (1974).
After a monumental career, he retired to Bellingham, Washington. Bell passed away at the age of 79 on December 22, 2022.
Dyana Williams, co-founder of Black Music Month and legendary media personality, lauded her former colleague and friend for his immense contributions to the music industry.
“One of THE most prolific songwriters, arrangers and producers of classic, timeless music is Thom Bell,” Williams told Billy Penn. “When I think of sweet, poetic, enchanting romantic music, Thom Bell and his frequent collaborator, lyricist Linda Creed, come to mind. As long as humanity exists, Thom Bell’s music will continue to be a soundtrack for living.”
In celebration of Black Music Month, we pay tribute to one of the greatest musicians ever and a proud son of Philly. Here are 11 Things You Might Not Have Known About Thom Bell.
A native of Jamaica
Many may not be aware that Thom Bell was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 26, 1943. He later relocated to Philadelphia with his parents at the age of 4. He was one of 10 siblings.
He was classically trained
Bell’s parents were accomplished musicians in their own right and created an environment where he cultivated his own musical talents. By the time he was 5, he was taking piano lessons with dreams of becoming a conductor. But after hearing Little Anthony and the Imperials’ mournful “Tears On My Pillow,” Bell knew that he wanted to create this kind of music.
“I fell in love with the whole production,’’ Bell told the Seattle Times. “I listened to the background, the bass, a lot more than just the lyrics.”
His classical background heavily influenced his orchestral arrangements.
Formed a doo-wop group with Kenny Gamble
As a teenager, Bell formed a short-lived doo-wop group with Kenny Gamble called “Kenny and Tommy” and then “Kenny Gamble & the Romeos.” While they achieved local success, it would not compare to the impact and success that they would enjoy years later.
He was Chubby Checker’s conductor
One of Bell’s first professional jobs in the music industry was working as an arranger and conductor for rock & roll icon Chubby Checker. Along with conducting his touring band, he also wrote some of Checker’s music. “I was a writer for his publishing company and also writing music for some of his shows and doing a little conducting for him, ” Bell said in an interview with WHYY’s “Fresh Air.”
One of the architects of “The Sound of Philadelphia”
Bell, alongside Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, were the creative geniuses behind the Philadelphia Sound that reigned supreme through the late 1960s into the ‘70s. The genre was known for its sophisticated songwriting, lush arrangements and unforgettable lyrics. While Gamble and Huff primarily ran teh iconic Philadelphia International Records (PIR) label, the “Mighty Three” refers to their music publishing company, Mighty Three Music. Bell worked with artists at various record companies.
His co-writer was Linda Creed
While Bell helmed the production, his songwriting partner was Linda Creed, also a Philadelphia native. She was the lyricist behind numerous hits, including The Stylistics, including “You Are Everything,” “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”
“In those days, people didn’t particularly appreciate a Black and white team,” Bell said of his partnership with Creed. The two collaborated for nine years, until Creed passed away from breast cancer, at the age of 37, in 1986. Bell was at her side until the end. “We were like brother and sister,’’ Bell recalled.
“Rubberband Man” was written for his son
One of the classic songs from The Spinners was “Rubberband Man.” Bell penned it with Creed, and at first it was called “The Fat Man,” a nickname that classmates had hung on Bell’s son Mark. Bell hoped to change the perception of this nickname by composing a song about a big man who could really move on the dance floor. “It was written for big people who were hip, to change the whole idea of a person being large, being sloppy, slow,” Bell recalled.
Bob Babbitt, the legendary bass player who played on numerous Motown tracks, plays the signature bassline on the song. To achieve the unique sound, Babbitt ran the instrument through a device he called a “funk box.” Sung by the late great Phillppe Wynne, “Rubberband Man” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
“I don’t do R&B, I do music”
While steeped in the Black music tradition, Bell defied all the labels that would be placed on his music. “Invariably, when other producers and musicians would say that my sounds were odd for R&B, I would just tell them, ‘I don’t do R&B — I do music,’ ” Bell said.
He was an accomplished chef
Along with having the skills to cook up timeless hits in the studio, Bell could really cook in the kitchen, too. An enthusiastic chef, Bell collected more than 1,500 cookbooks at his home in Washington state. He and his wife rarely went to restaurants because of his mastery of Asian cuisine.
He gave most of his memorabilia to his family
In a career spanning more than six decades, Bell garnered his fair share of awards over the years. Interestingly, he didn’t keep any memorabilia in his home, but gave his collection to his kids and grandkids. “That’s another life,” Bell said. “Good memories, but I’m finished with it now.”
Critical acclaim
Throughout his remarkable career, Bell received many accolades. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2016. He also won a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, in 1975, and received a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy. In 2025, he will be posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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