Archie Bell & the Drells was an American R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, and one of the main acts on Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records.
The group's hits include "Tighten Up", "I Can't Stop Dancing" (both 1968), "There's Gonna Be A Showdown", "Girl You're Too Young" (1969), "Here I Go Again" (also a UK hit in 1972, "Soul City Walk" (1975), "Let's Groove", "Everybody Have A Good Time" (1977), and "Don't Let Love Get You Down" (1976).
Archie Bell, who founded the group, was born in Houston, Texas. He is the older brother of lead vocalist of Motown's Dazz Band and world karate champion Jerry Bell, and another younger brother Ricky Bell who (died1984) he was an NFL player, and other brother's in the group Lee Bell, and Eugene Bell was the final brother. Archie formed the group in 1966 with his friends James Wise, Willie Parnell and Billy Butler. They signed with the Houston-based record label, Ovide, in 1967 and recorded a number of songs, including "She's My Woman" and "Tighten Up", which was recorded in October 1967 at the first of several sessions in which the Drells were backed by the instrumental group the T.S.U. Toronadoes.
The origins of "Tighten Up" came from a conversation Bell had with Butler. Bell was despondent after receiving his draft notice, and Butler, in an attempt to cheer him up, demonstrated the "Tighten Up" dance to Bell. Bell asked Butler what it was, and Butler told him the name. Bell then put together the famous track, which hit the charts following his induction into the Army.
"Tighten Up" was written by Archie Bell and Billy Butler, contained Archie Bell prodding listeners to dance to the funky musical jam developed by the T.S.U. Toronadoes, and it became a hit in Houston before it was picked up by Atlantic Records for distribution in April 1968. By the summer it topped both the Billboard R&B and pop charts. It also received a R.I.A.A. gold disc by selling 1 million copies.
According to the Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson, Bell heard a comment after the Kennedy assassination in Dallas that "nothing good ever came out of Texas." Bell wanted his listeners to know "we were from Texas and we were good."
Many believe Bell was wounded in action in Vietnam while the band was still at the height of its fame, but he actually injured his leg in a truck accident while stationed in Germany.
The success of the single prompted the band to rush out an album, despite their incapacitated leader. In 1969 the group recorded their first full album with Gamble and Huff, I Can't Stop Dancing, which reached number 28 on the R&B album chart. By this time another of Archie's brothers, Lee Bell (born January 14, 1946, Houston), had replaced Butler, and became the band's choreographer.
Reid Farrell, who was from Houston, was the guitarist who traveled and played with the group.
In 1964, thirteen-year-old Robert Bell, his brother Ronald, and five high-school friends in Jersey City, New Jersey, formed an instrumental band called the Jazziacs. They changed their name to Kool & the Flames in 1967, then Kool & the Gang in 1969 (to avoid confusion with James Brown's Famous Flames) and were signed by Gene Redd to his new record label De-Lite Records in 1969.
The band consisted of Robert "Kool" Bell (bass), Ronald Bell (keyboards), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Dennis Thomas (saxophone), Ricky West, George Brown (drums), and Charles Smith (guitar).
The Bell brothers' father Bobby and uncle Tommy were boxers. They moved to New York to train and lived in the same apartment building as Thelonious Monk, who became Robert's godfather when he was born. Miles Davis would drop by because he wanted to be a boxer. They played occasionally with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Leon Thomas.[5]
Success in the 1970s and 1980s
The band's debut album, Kool and the Gang (1969), produced three hit singles on the pop and R&B charts of Billboard magazine. Wild and Peaceful (1973) gave the band three more hits: "Funky Stuff" in the Top 40 pop chart and "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging" in the Top 10. The latter two songs sold over one million copies and were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band remained productive, with albums coming out in 1974 (Light of Worlds) and 1975 (Spirit of the Boogie).
In 1979, James "J.T." Taylor joined as lead singer. Kool and the Gang starting working with Brazilian fusion musician Eumir Deodato as producer, and they moved away from funk and closer to rhythm & blues and pop music. The songs "Ladies' Night" and "Too Hot" were hits[8] and the album was certified platinum by the RIAA. Even more successful was the album Celebrate! (1980), also produced by Deodato, also certified platinum, giving Kool and the Gang its first number one hit ("Celebration"), which Robert Bell called "an international anthem".
More international hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun", "Get Down on It", and "Joanna". The album Emergency (1984) yielded four Top 20 pop hits, including "Fresh" and "Cherish".
In 1988, Taylor left the group to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by vocalists: Odeen Mays, and Gary Brown. He returned for State of Affairs (1996).
Former members
Rick West, the group's original keyboardist, who left in 1976 to form his own band, died in 1985. Guitarist Charles Smith died after a long illness in 2006 and was replaced by the Bells' youngest brother, Amir Bayyan, former leader of the Kay Gees. Original trumpet player Robert "Spike" Mickens, who retired in 1986 due to poor health, died at the age of 59 on November 2, 2010, at a nursing home in Far Rockaway, New York. Kool and the Gang added Larry Gittens in 1975 from the Stylistics. Earl Toon Jr. was briefly with the group too (1979 & '80)
KOOL & THE GANG
ROBERT KOOL BELL
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS
Thomas Randolph Bell (born January 26, 1943) is a Jamaican-born American songwriter, arranger, and record producer known as one of the creators of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s.
Bell was classically trained as a musician, he moved to Philadelphia as a child but as a teenager had sung with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame). Bell's first big break in soul music came with Cameo Records in Philadelphia where he worked as a session player and arranger. In 1967, he was introduced to a local group called The Delfonics, producing two singles for them on subsidiary label, Moonglow. Bell brought a startlingly mellifluous, hypnotic haut en couleur style and ravishing magnificence to soul music and soon his excelsior production talents yielded several big hits for the group on the Philly Groove label, run by their manager Stan Watson. These included "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," the latter nominated for a Grammy Award in 1970.
Bell had also joined the fast-growing record production company operated by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in Philadelphia, working as an arranger for acts such as Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & The Drells, The O'Jays and Dusty Springfield. He also arranged some of the early big hits, including the O'Jays' "Back Stabbers", on Gamble & Huff's own record label, Philadelphia International Records, which they launched in 1971. He also joined the two in setting up a music publishing company for their songs, Mighty Three Music.
By 1971, Bell had moved on to produce another local group, The Stylistics, this time on Avco Records. By then, he had teamed up with the Philadelphia-born songwriter, Linda Creed and this partnership, along with Russell Thompkins, Jr., the lead singer of the Stylistics, generated three albums full of memorable tracks. Bell and Creed became one of the era's dominant soul songwriting teams, penning 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" (the latter with Anthony Bell).
In 1972, Bell agreed to produce The Spinners for Atlantic Records. The group, who had long been with Motown Records, had joined Atlantic after failing to get the attention they wanted. It was the start of a hugely successful collaboration that lasted for seven years and eight original albums. Bell revitalized the group, producing five gold albums that included chart success with singles such as "Mighty Love," "Ghetto Child", "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", and "The Rubberband Man". In 1975, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Producer of the Year.
In 1975, Bell produced an album with Dionne Warwick called Track of the Cat, one year after he had teamed her with the Spinners on the song, "Then Came You", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #2 on the R&B chart. He also worked with acts such as Johnny Mathis (two albums), Billy Paul, Ronnie Dyson, Anthony & The Imperials and New York City in the mid to late 1970s, but generally with less commercial appeal.
Subsequently, Bell had success with Deniece Williams, including her R&B #1 and Top 10 re-make of The Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle") in 1982; James Ingram with "I Don't Have the Heart" in 1990 (Bell's second #1 pop hit); and Elton John, whose EP, "The Thom Bell Sessions," featured back-up by the Spinners and produced the Top 10 hit, "Mama Can't Buy You Love", in 1979.
Other artists Bell produced in the 1980s included The Temptations, Phyllis Hyman, Dee Dee Bridgwater, and he even re-united briefly with the Stylistics in 1981 on Philadelphia International's subsidiary, TSOP.
It is for his success with the Philadelphia sound in the 1970s, particularly with the Stylistics and Spinners, that he is remembered best. In June 2006, Bell was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
A December 2008 interview with Bell featured on the Philly Soul box set, Love Train, states he will soon compose a piece for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Past Orchestra members played in MFSB, the house band who played on many Bell productions.
TOM BELL
GAMBLE, HUFF & BELL
Al Bell (born Alvertis Isbell, March 15, 1940, in Brinkley, Arkansas, United States) is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive.
He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee, during the latter half of the label's 19-year existence.
A former disc jockey in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, Bell was vital to the careers of Stax's soul stars such as the Staple SIngers and Isaac Hayes, the Emotions, the Dramatics, and Mel and Tim. Bell's promotional efforts drove the “Memphis sound” internationally and made Stax the second-largest African-American–owned business in the 1970s. In 2009, the BBC profiled Bell as "one of the icons of soul music" and "the driving force behind Stax Records".
Following his career at Stax, Bell became president of Motown Records Group during its restructuring for sale to MCA and Boston Ventures Group. He later started his own label, Bellmark, whose releases included Tag Team's single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993). Today, Bell works in the independent music scene in Memphis and maintains an online music website and radio show at AlBellPresents.com.
Bell joined Stax in 1965 as director of promotions and was essential in aiding the growth of the company's revenue. Over the next three years, he rose through the ranks of the company, eventually becoming executive vice president and the most influential figure in the company after co-founder Jim Stewart.
In addition to his administrative and promotional work, Bell was often directly involved in the production of the label's music, working as a songwriter and a producer for several acts on the label.
In 1968, following the plane crash that killed Stax's biggest star, Otis Redding, Stax severed its distribution deal with Atlantic Records, who retained the label's back catalog to that point. Bell launched an initiative designed to put out enough albums and singles in an effort to rebuild a catalog for Stax. New signees included gospel stars the Staple Singers as well as newcomers the Emotions and the Soul Children. Bell notably scheduled twenty-seven albums for near-simultaneous release in mid-1969 and produced much of the material himself.
One of those albums, Hot Buttered Soul, by Stax songwriter and producer Isaac Hayes, was a significant success, establishing Hayes as a recording artist in his own right. Bell was directly involved in shaping the careers of the Staple Singers, creating for them a new sound which resulted in hits such as "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There," the latter of which he wrote.
Stax in the 1970s
Bell became co-owner of Stax in 1969 when co-founder Estelle Axton, unhappy with Bell's visions for the company, sold her shares and departed from the label.[3] He therefore became the first African-American to have equity in the label; although Stax specialized in African-American music, both of its founders, Stewart and Axton, were white.
In the 1970s Stewart began turning over more and more of Stax's daily operations to Bell, who began ambitious plans to expand the company's operations, similar to what Berry Gordy, Jr. had been doing at Motown Records. Stax began distributing music from several smaller Memphis labels and produced and released the soundtracks for feature films such as Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Shaft (both 1971).
In 1972, Al Bell supervised the Wattstax festival, a day-long concert featuring Stax artists which was held in Los Angeles in response to the Watts riots. The 1973 documentary film Wattstax was produced by the label's new film division.
After four years of the label distributing its own records, Bell signed a new distribution deal with CBS Records in 1972. Stax's relationship with CBS was tumultuous at best; with Bell and the Stax staff borrowing heavily from Memphis' Union Planters Bank but CBS withholding records from stores and profits from Stax, the label's fortunes sharply declined until it slid into bankruptcy and was closed by court order in late 1975. Bell was indicted for, and later acquitted of, bank fraud during the Stax bankruptcy proceedings.
Later career
After Stax folded, Bell returned to Little Rock. He voluntarily stayed away from the music industry for a decade, save for periodic participation in local recordings. In the 1980s, he became head of the Motown Records Group and worked closely with Berry Gordy Jr. in the sale of Motown to the MCA/Boston Ventures Group.
After Motown, he discovered the music group Tag Team and through his Bellmark Records label released their hit single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993), which became one of the fastest-selling singles in the music industry history. Bell also released Prince's hit single "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", after Prince's label Warner Bros. Records turned him down.
After Bellmark Records, Bell returned to Little Rock to begin work on a new web-based venture, Al Bell Presents, for which he hosts a successful online radio program, Al Bell Presents: American Soul Music. In 2009, Bell was profiled in the New York Times and on the BBC as he returned to Memphis to help develop the city's independent music scene.
Awards
Bell has received numerous awards, including:
-
Induction into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in Clarksdale, MIssissippi, June 6, 2015
-
Inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, February 13, 2015
-
Induction into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, 2014
-
Grammy Trustees Award, 2011 <http://www.grammy.com/news/trustees-award-al-bell
>
-
Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Chamber of Commerce
-
Alex Haley "Roots Award," Greater Washington, DC Business Center
-
National Award of Achievement, U.S. Department of Commerce
-
Dare to Soar Award, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
-
Achievement Award, Boy Scouts of America
-
1000 Most Successful Blacks, Ebony Magazine
-
100 Most Influential Black Men, Ebony Magazine
-
Entered in "Who's Who in the World"
-
Induction into America's Music and Entertainment of Fame
-
Induction into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame
-
Member of the Board of Directors, Memphis Chamber of Commerce
-
Member of the Board of Directors, Central Arkansas Chapter of the March of Dimes
-
Member of the Board of Trustees, Philander Smith College
-
Memphis' Legendary Record Producers Award, 2005
-
W.C. Handy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002
-
Record Executive of the Year, Impact Magazine, 1994
-
Record Executive of the Year, BRE, 1994
-
Chairman’s Award, Southeast Music, 1994
-
NARM Indie Best Seller Award ("Whoomp! There It Is", Tag Team), 1994
-
Independent Label of the Year Award, The Urban Network, 1994
-
The Spirit of Freedom Award, Freedom Magazine, 1994
-
Russell Simmons Award for Executive Excellence, Young Black Programmers' Coalition, 1993
-
Black Music Chief Executive of the Year, Impact, 1993
-
Living Legend Award, Warner Bros., Reprise Records & Urban Network, 1972 Heroes and Legends Leadership Award, 1991
-
Voted Number Five in the 30 All-Time Greatest Executives in Black Music, Impact Magazine Poll, 1985
-
Best Documentary (Wattstax), nomination Golden Globe (1973)
-
Executive of the Year, Bill Gavin Radio Program Conference, 1971
AL BELL
Ricky Lynn Bell , the younger brother of Archie Bell and Jerry Bell (April 8, 1955 – November 28, 1984) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.
Bell was a star in college for the University of Southern California, gaining 1,875 yards rushing in his junior season.
The #1 Overall Selection in the 1977 NFL Draft, Bell was inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Born in Houston, Texas, Bell moved to Los Angeles at age eleven and starred in football at its John C. Fremont High School.
Originally a linebacker, Bell first attracted notice during his sophomore season at USC in 1974 as a great blocker and between-the-tackles runner, sharing the position of fullback with David Farmer for the 10–1–1 national championship team (UPI) that defeated third-ranked Ohio State 18–17 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
In 1975, the Trojans won their first seven games. Without a passing game to balance the offense, they struggled to an 8–4 record, but was capped with a victory over Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl.
During this season, Bell led the nation in rushing, gaining 1,875 yards, as he finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American.
Then in his senior season of 1976, Bell led the Trojans team to an 11–1 record, crowned by a 14–6 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Despite suffering nagging injuries that limited his playing time, Bell set the USC single-game rushing record of 347 yards against Washington State at the new Kingdome, and he was the runner-up for the Heisman, behind Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh, the national champions.
Bell was voted the player of the year in the Pacific-8 Conference in 1976. He was also awarded the 1976 W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast and was again a consensus All-American.
Bell was the first overall draft choice in the 1977 NFL Draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were winless in their first season in 1976. Bell signed a five-year contract for a reported $1.2 million, by far the richest contract ever signed by an NFL rookie. This draft choice was somewhat controversial because Tony Dorsett was being projected as an arguably better back than Bell.
Bell's selection was not a surprise, however, because Tampa Bay was coached by John McKay, Bell's former head coach at USC through 1975. After a couple mediocre seasons, in 1979, Bell enjoyed his finest season, rushing for 1,263 yards and leading the Buccaneers to the championship of the NFC Central Division. He led the Buccaneers to their first playoff win in franchise history that season by rushing for 142 yards on 38 carries scoring two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team fell one game short of a trip to Super Bowl XIV, ending their season by losing to the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC championship.
In March 1982, McKay sent him to the San Diego Chargers, but suffering from weight loss, aching muscles, and severe skin problems, he retired before the 1983 season.
Bell died at age 29 of heart failure caused by the disease of dermatomyositis.
Mario Van Peebles portrayed the player in the 1991 made-for-television movie, A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, which was based on the life of Ricky Bell. Bell's remains were interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
RICKY LYNN BELL
THE BELL FAMILY
William Bell (born William Yarbrough, July 16, 1939) is an American soul singer and songwriter. As a performer, he is probably best known for his debut single 1961's "You Don't Miss Your Water" and 1968's top 10 hit in the UK "Private Number", a duet with Judy Clay.
Bell's only US top 40 hit is 1976's "Tryin' to Love Two", which also hit No. 1 on the R&B charts. Upon the death of Otis Redding, Bell released the well-received memorial song "A Tribute to a King".
As a songwriter, Bell co-authored the Chuck Jackson hit "Any Other Way", which is a cover since Bell issued it first, as a follow-up to "You Don't Miss Your Water"; Billy Idol's 1986 hit "To Be a Lover", which was first a hit for Bell under its original title "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"; and the blues classic "Born Under A Bad Sign", popularized by both Albert King and Cream.
Although he was a long-time recording artist for Stax Records, he is unrelated to the label's one-time president, Al Bell.
Bell was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He took the last name "Bell" as a stage name in honor of his grandmother, whose first name was Belle.
He made his first leap into the music scene backing Rufus Thomas. In 1957, Bell recorded his first sides as a member of the Del Rios.
William Bell was an early signing on Stax Records initially as a songwriter. Other notable Stax Records artists include Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, and The Staple Singers.
It was only after Bell served a stint in the military that he was finally able to release his debut album, 1967's The Soul of a Bell, on Stax Records. Bell’s Top 20 single “Everybody Loves a Winner” was on this album. Bell moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1969 and started up Peachtree Record Company, his short-lived soul label.
In 1985, he founded another label, Wilbe, and issued Passion, which found its most receptive audiences in the UK.
Two years later, Bell was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's R&B Pioneer Award that same year. Starting in 1992, Bell took a hiatus from the recording studio, while still performing regularly. In 2000, he released an album of all-new material on Wilbe entitled A Portrait Is Forever.
In 2003, he was honored with the W.C. Handy Heritage Award. It wasn't until six years after his previous album that he released the album New Lease on Life.
In 2016, Bell reactivated the Stax Record Label to release a new album. Produced by John Leventhal, This Is Where I Live featured Bell performing a batch of new songs, along with a revived recording of "Born Under a Bad Sign."
WILLIAM BELL
ISAAC & ELiJAH BELL SEPTEMBER 30th LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. Profile: First Dan Black in Karate under the teachings of their father Grandmaster Jerry Bell. They have appeared in movies and television shows like: CSI, LIKE MIKE, BRUCE ALL MIGHTY, BODYWEAPON, DISNEY MOVIES KICKING IT, WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE. They are currently starring in their own Youtube Channel called "The Bell Twins".
ISAAC & ELIJAH BELL
James S. Bell
Was born in Beverly Hills California. He was raised in San Diego Ca, Were he found his love and passion for music. He Comes from musical greats his family began with the matriarch, his late Grandmother Mattie Bell, a Gospel singer, whom all of her offspring inherited her mighty vocals. Mattie is followed by James legendary uncle Archie Bell from the famed group Archie Bell and The Drells, who are known for their R&B Pop hits such as Tighten Up, I Just Can't Stop Dancing, There's Gonna Be A Showdown, and Let's Groove. And his younger twin brothers Isaac & Elijah Bell Actor's
Then comes his cousin Thom Bell, who has produced such songs as Stop Look and Listen, People Make The World Go Round, You Make Me Feel Brand New, La La Means I Love You, Didn't I Blow Your Mind, You Are Everything and Break Up to Make Up. Thom has produced such groups as The Delphonics, Stylistics, The Spinners, Blue Magic, Archie Bell and The Drells, and Dionne Warwick. James is also second cousin to Robert Kool Bell; of the famed group Kool and The Gang; with such hits as Ladies Night, Jungle Boogie, Hollywood Swinging, and Get Down On It.
James is next in line after his Legendary father, two time Grammy Award Winner, Jerry Bell, formerly lead vocalist of the famed groups The New Birth and Motown's Dazz Band. Jerry's smooth vocals leant to such hits as It's Been Such a Long Time, Wildflower, Mr. Dream Merchant, I Can Understand It, Let It Whip, Swoop, Joystick, Keep It Live, Let It All Blow, Gamble, Everyday Love, Winter Love Affair, and many, many more.
This very talented young man has a family history that will last him and direct him until the end of time. For years as a little boy, James has stood in the shadows of his Uncles and his Father; always exposed to old school; or should we say “Original Music”? He has been waiting for his chance to show that he is also a BELL Music Man. Now his time has come; James just recently become a signed artist with Global Wind Records/ Converse Rubber Tracks. His ship has arrived!
JAMES S. BELL
HIP HOP MUSIC PRODUCER AND SONG WRITER!
GOVIANNI BRYAN BELL IS ALSO APART OF THE NEW GENERATION MUSIC OF SOUL! THE HISTORY OF HIS FAMILY BLOODLINE GO'S BACK TO THE HISTORY OF SOUL AND R&B! THE 2ND OLDEST BROTHER OF THE 4 BELL BROTHERS HE IS ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR!
GOVIANNI BRYAN BELL
