Producer and “Sound of Philadelphia” ,Thom Bell Dies at 79

According to Rolling Stone and The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thom Bell, the iconic producer who reinvented Philly Soul in the 1960s and 1970s, has died. “The Sound of Philadelphia” was co-created by Bell, lyricist Leon Huff, and producer Kenny Gamble, known as the Mighty Three. They co-founded Philadelphia International and produced some of the era’s most popular records.

“La-La Means I Love You” by the Delfonics, “Backstabber” by the O’Jays, “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” by Elton John, and “Rubberband Man” by the Spinners are among Bell’s most famous compositions. The reason for death is yet unknown. At the time, he was 79 years old.

He was born in Jamaica in 1943, but when he was a toddler, his family migrated to West Philadelphia, where he grew up with nine siblings. Bell’s parents were also musicians, and as a boy, he played the drums and studied classical piano. He played in the Romeos with Gamble when he was a teenager, and by his early twenties, he was a staff writer and travelling conductor for Chubby Checker. In the late 1960s, Bell began working as a producer for the Delfonics, resulting in songs such as “La-La Means I Love You” and “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind?”

Bill was a Classical person

Bell’s classical training influenced his work as an arranger and producer, and he used unusual instruments and approaches for the time. His characteristic sumptuous sound may include sitars, symphonic strings, and bassoons, although his notation was not necessarily standard. “The first time I wrote the music down for my strings, I scribbled a figure with the word ‘pluck’ above it,” Bell told Pitchfork’s Jayson Greene in 2013.

“The musicians said to me, ‘Hey Bell, what’s this ‘pluck’ business?” he said. ‘What are you on about, man?’ ‘You know, [mimes plucking strings with fingertips],’ I said. ‘You mean pizzicato!’ they exclaimed, looking at me. They still send me Christmas cards making fun of me.”

Bell earned the Grammy Award for Best Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 1975, and he was elected into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. A new documentary concentrating on the work of Bell, Huff, and Gamble was unveiled earlier this year.

Thom Bell for his death

As word of Bell’s death spread, Gamble issued the following statement (which Rolling Stone obtained): “Tommy and I have been close friends for almost 60 years. When we initially met, we decided to start creating songs together and establish a singing duo called “Kenny and Tommy,” followed by our band The Romeos… He was a wonderful artist and a personal friend of mine. Rest in peace, pal.”

Huff Added: “Thom Bell was my favorite musician, arranger, songwriter, and music producer of all time! It was my esteemed honor and pleasure to work with him creatively and as a business partner. Rest in peace.”

Bell discussed his writing process in the same 2013 interview with Pitchfork. “I worked hard on every melody I ever created,” he remarked. “And once I deliver it, that’s the end of it. I’m at a loss for what more to say. I just had one rule: you couldn’t modify the melody. You’re not sure why it’s correct, but you know it is. You grab a pencil and sharpen it in the pencil sharpener, sharpening it again and again until it reaches its tip. When it gets to where it’s intended to be, that’s where it stays. It breaks after that.”