Thom Bell, 79, a Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger, and songwriter who collaborated with Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble to help develop the Sound of Philadelphia, a musical movement that rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has passed away.
In a statement, his attorney Michael Silver said that Mr. Bell passed away on Thursday at his Bellingham, Washington, home. According to Silver, there was no immediate word on the cause of death.
The Sound of Philadelphia’s distinctive, lavish orchestral arrangements were one of Mr. Bell’s contributions. When they created the Sound of Philadelphia, Mr. Bell, Gamble, and Huff were dubbed “The Mighty Three.”
“Tommy and I have been best friends for over 60 years,” “When we first met, we decided to start writing songs together and form a singing duo ‘Kenny and Tommy’ and then our band ‘The Romeos.’ Leon Huff and I were proud to have him as part of our Mighty Three music writing team, which helped create our signature brand of TSOP. He was a great talent and my dear friend. The name of Gamble Huff and Bell will last forever. Rest in peace buddy!”
Gamble said in a statement.
”Thom Bell was my favorite musician, arranger, songwriter and music producer of all time! It was my esteem honor and pleasure to work with him creatively and as a business partner. Rest in peace.”
In his own statement, Huff said:
Nile Rodgers, a renowned musician, and producer, also expressed sympathy for Mr. Bell’s passing.
“I don’t write anything that’s hard on the ear,”
the 2006 Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee said from his home in Washington near the Canadian border, where he moved in the late 1970s.
”I don’t care if it’s loud, big-bam-boom James Brown, or anything else. It has to be pleasing to the ear,”
Mr. Bell said.
Early Life of Thom Bell, Where is he from? What about the family members?
In West Philadelphia, Mr. Bell, who was raised with nine brothers and sisters, was raised after being born in Jamaica in 1943. His father played the Hawaiian lap steel guitar and the accordion, and both of his parents were musicians. His mother was a pianist. When he was four years old, Mr. Bell acquired his first drum set and began studying the piano.
Little Anthony and the Imperials’ “Goin’ Out Of My Head” was played on the radio when Mr. Bell’s father established a restaurant because his family didn’t have a radio at home. In 2020, Mr. Bell claimed that the writing and arrangements of two of his favorite artists, Teddy Randazzo and Don Costa, “were the music I was hearing in my thoughts.”
With the help of his mother, who passed away earlier in 2020, Mr. Bell abandoned classical music in favor of creating his own pop music.
Gamble was walking Mr. Bell’s sister home when they first spoke, and Mr. Bell was playing the piano in the living room. They soon began performing together as Kenny & the Romeos at venues like Loretta’s Hi-Hat in Camden County. Huff took over playing the piano when Mr. Bell left.
He began his career with Chubby Checker, where he served as a staff writer and tour conductor. His first job as a producer was for the Delfonics in 1968, where he helped create their singles “La-La Means I Love You” and “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind.”
Who is Thom Bell Wife? His Son, Married life and Divorced
Thom Bell and Sylvia Bell were first married. 1965 saw the marriage of Thom and Sylvia, and 1981 saw their divorce. The union between Vanessa and Thom Bell is fulfilling. The couple has been married since 1986.
How much Net worth does Thom Bell’s make in his Career?
Thom Bell’s net worth was ranging from $2 million -$4 million at the time of his Death.
One of the architects of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s was Thomas Randolph Bell, an American record producer, arranger, and songwriter of Jamaican descent.
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He achieved his greatest fame as a result of his work with the Delfonics, Stylistics, and Spinners in the 1970s Philadelphia sound. Bell received his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2006. Bell was honored by being admitted to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.
