- Bell and the mighty three created the “Sound of Philadelphia.
- He also worked on the song “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” by Elton John.
- He was admitted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
Music producer Thom Bell, who contributed to the “Sound of Philadelphia” soul movement, passed away at the age of 79. Bell’s wife Vanessa informed the Associated Press last week that he passed away on Thursday after a protracted illness in his Bellingham, Washington, home. The cause of death and exact circumstances are yet unknown.
In the 1970s, Bell and the Mighty Three—Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff—created the “Sound of Philadelphia.”
“Tommy and I have been best friends for over 60 years,” Gamble wrote on Instagram. “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… He was a great talent and my dear friend. Rest in peace buddy.”
“Thom Bell was my favorite musician, arranger, songwriter, and music producer of all time!” Huff said in a press statement, according to Rolling Stone. “It was my esteemed honor and pleasure to work with him creatively and as a business partner. Rest in peace.”
Bell was born in 1943 in Jamaica and later moved with his family to Philadelphia. Later, he worked as a session musician and arranger for bands including the Delfonics, the Spinners, and the Stylistics.
The Delfonics’ “La-La Means I Love You,” the Spinners’ “Rubberband Man,” the O’Jays’ “Backstabber,” the Stylistics’ “I’ll Be Around,” and the Delfonics’ “Betcha By Golly Wow” are some of his most well-known tracks. He also worked on the song “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” by Elton John.
He was the first recipient of the Grammy for producer of the year, non-classical, in 1975. He was admitted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. The Recording Academy then gave him a trustee’s honor in 2017.
The Mighty Three revealed they would be the focus of the upcoming documentary The Sound of Philadelphia earlier this year.
The group stated in a statement to Rolling Stone and Deadline earlier this year: “After six decades, we are tremendously proud to finally share our personal stories with the public and display all the hard work that has gone into making this magnificent music.” With themes of empowerment and love to “people all over the world,” as we have always had a “Message in our Music,” “our longstanding fans and new admirers will receive a unique peek inside the production of the Sound of Philadelphia.”
According to the New York Times, Bell is survived by his wife Vanessa, and his six children, Troy, Mark, Royal, Christopher, Tia, and Cybell.
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