Thom Bell, 79, the Grammy-winning producer, arranger and songwriter who, along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, helped create the Sound of Philadelphia that became world famous in the late 1960s and early ’70s, has died.
His attorney, Michael Silver, issued a statement saying Mr Bell died Thursday at his home in Bellingham, Washington. The cause of death was not immediately known, Silver said.
Part of Mr. Bell’s contribution to the Sound of Philadelphia was his signature lush orchestral arrangements. Mr. Bell, Gamble and Huff were known as “The Mighty Three” when they created the Sound of Philadelphia.
“Tommy and I have been best friends for over 60 years,” Gamble said in a statement. “When we first met we decided to write 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 on our Mighty Three music writing team that helped create our signature brand, TSOP. He was a great talent and my dear friend. The Gamble Huff and Bell name will live forever. Rest in peace mate!”
In his own statement, Huff said: “Thom Bell was my favorite musician, arranger, songwriter and record producer of all time! It was an honor and a pleasure to work with him creatively and as a business partner. Rest in peace.”
Legendary musician and producer Nile Rodgers also confirmed the death of Mr. Bell.
“He is one of the greatest writers and producers of all time,” Rodgers wrote on Twitter. “My condolences go to his family and friends. He was the architect of the relationship between #BernardEdwards and I since we were the band of the group New York City (I’m Doing Fine Now), a hit by Thom Bell.”
In a phone interview, Dyana Williams, a longtime television personality and family friend, said that Mr. Bell “was an exuberant person. He was a joker.” However, she added, “He lived a very quiet life. Being famous was not important to him.”
In a 2020 interview with The Inquirer, Mr. Bell spoke about his songwriting and career in Philadelphia.
“I don’t write anything that’s hard on the ear,” the songwriter, inducted into the Songwriting Hall of Fame in 2006, said at 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,” said Mr. Bell.
Mr. Bell was born in Jamaica in 1943 and grew up in West Philadelphia with nine brothers and sisters. His parents were both musicians – his mother was a pianist and his father played the accordion and Hawaiian lap steel guitar. Mr. Bell got his first drum set at the age of 4 and studied classical piano.
When his father opened a restaurant, Mr. Bell heard Little Anthony and the Imperials’ “Goin’ Out Of My Head” on the radio—Mr. Bell’s family didn’t have a radio at home. The work of two of Mr. Bell’s favorites — writer Teddy Randazzo and arranger Don Costa — “was the music I was hearing in my head,” Mr. Bell said in 2020.
Mr Bell gave up classical music to make his own pop music with the support of his mother, who died in early 2020.
He and Gamble met when Gamble was escorting Mr. Bell’s sister home and Mr. Bell was playing the piano in the living room. Soon they were together in a group called Kenny & the Romeos and regularly played clubs like Loretta’s Hi-Hat in Camden County. When Mr. Bell left, he was replaced at the piano by Huff.
Early in his career, he worked as a staff writer and tour conductor for Chubby Checker. He made his production debut in 1968 for the Delfonics, and he coined their hits “La-La Means I Love You” and “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind.”
Mr. Bell wrote “I Can’t Take It” by the Orlons with Gamble in 1965. Mr. Bell wrote “La-La Means I Love You” with William Hart of the Delfonics in 1968. Mr. Bell played the strings Arrangement for “Back Stabbers”, the 1972 breakthrough hit for the O’Jays on Gamble label and Huffs Philadelphia International Records.
He has had collaborations with Elton John, Teddy Pendergrass, Deniece Williams and Johnny Mathis.
Mr. Bell has also worked with Dionne Warwick, Lou Rawls, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Dusty Springfield.
In 1975, Mr. Bell won the Grammy Award for Best Producer of the Year, the first time an award had been presented in that category. Mr. Bell also later received another Grammy award, a 2017 Recording Academy Trustee Award, as part of a televised Salute To Music Legends.
Later in his career, Mr. Bell worked with David Byrne, Jos Stone and Fatboy Slim.
His most treasured partnership was with Philadelphia songwriter Linda Creed, who wrote “You Make Me Feel Brand New” for him. She died of cancer in 1986 at the age of 37.
“It’s like you and your wife, your mate. You know when it’s time. There aren’t too many people to ride the ethers of life with and love together. You’re lucky if you can do it alone, and twice as lucky if you can do it with a partner,” said Mr. Bell.
In 1993, Mr. Bell received a star on the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame.
Mr. Bell co-owned the building at 309 S. Broad St. that housed Philadelphia International Records with Gamble and Huff before it was demolished in 2015.
He came up with the name for the publishing house “Mighty Three” and designed a badge with a trio of elephants. “Because they’re the largest land mammal in the world and you can never forget our tunes,” he said.
However, Mr. Bell was known for forging his own path. He chose not to work with them when they formed Philadelphia International Records in 1971.
“I’m a very independent guy,” said Mr. Bell. “I’m not a follower. I’m a leader, and the person I want to lead is me.” He often repeated a personal motto: “You never know when you’re going to ring the bell.”
Mr. Bell’s name wasn’t as recognizable as Gamble and Huff, but he said he never bothered.
“I got what I deserved,” said Mr. Bell. “I have the satisfaction of making music. I need to earn a few bucks. And I could think and do what I wanted to do. I’m here for the love of music. That’s what my heart beats for.”
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife Vanessa and children Royal, Troy, Tia, Mark, Cybell and Christopher, Silver said.
Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.