Unsung Heroes of Soul 

I concur, Thom Bell just passed away a few weeks ago. He was indeed a Legend!

Listen to the beginning of "Since I've Been Gone" by the spinners. That's gotta be one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.

We all thought that, and that's what he told everyone. But the truth came out after his death by a family member on his obituary. He, his younger siblings were born in Philadelphia, PA. (U.S. 1950 census); his parents were born in Maryland and Virginia, His maternal grandad was born in Jamaica, but came here from Panama. So like myself, he's just 1/4 West Indian. Forget about Gamble & Huff, Thom made the Delfonics more popular than the Intruders, arranging back stabbers, made the Intruders and that Philly sound heard around the world. Thomas Randolph Bell, GOAT.

RIP to the brilliant Thom Bell!!!

Thom bell has been inducted into the rock& roll hall of fame plus being the first recipient of producer,which was created for producers,in essence, Thom was the first inducte. Plus many other awards.

DISCO COUNSEL OF FAME !!!!

T.S.O.P PARALLEL TO MOTOWN , SOUNDS SO GOOD,JUST SIT AND LISTEN,WILL TAKE YOU TO PARADISE.

Sorry, but it's "Understand Why You Dance."

That's one of my favorite songs by the O,'jays message in our music

Soundtrack of my life!

NO ! NO . SCUNKY - DONKY - JUNK & GOUGE NOISE !!!!!!!!!

That's the essence, the " magic" behind the musical sound!

TO ME, THE SOUND OF PHILLIDELPHIA WAS SOUL WITH A BOW TIE AND A MARTINI GLASS IN HAND! SMOOTH, SEXY, SOPHISTICATED AND OH SO CLASSY! LOVE IT! STILL WAITING ON A DOCUMENTARY ON HBO! COME ON GUYS! MOTOWN DID IT, STAX DID IT, ATLANTIC, DID IT, MUSCLE SHOALS DID IT, IT'S TIME FOR YALL! THIS IS WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE MUSIC OF THE LATE 60'S, 70'S, EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN SOUND AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BABY! OH SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

ALSO, LINDA CREED DIDN'T GET HER ROSES EITHER. TIME TO RECOGNIZE HER AS WELL!

What songs did he write ?.

@@itsmythang4177 “oh so lonely” co written by Bobby Eli “The show must go” co writer Bobby Eli And others Do a google search for more titles

You're right. Collaborative teams seem to have gone the way of the dinosaurs... Many are still around but don't write exclusively with the same writing partners. It's made music pretty boring though. So much sounds the same.

James Mtume & Reggie Lucas , Bernard Edwards & Nile Rogers as well

Thom Bell is the force behind THE DELFONICS, THE STYLISTICS, THE SPINNERS, and when you needed something SUPER SPECIAL in an arrangement (like the beginning of BACKSTABBERS), you got THOM BELL. I love Bobby Martin's arrangements, as far as quantity, but when you need that extra OOOO WEEEEE, you got THOMMY!!!

Did you watch the unsung episode on the Spinners? Thom Bell is the driving force behind the all those great songs that turned around there fortunes..

Thom Bell's arrangements were of an atmospheric quality.

I totally agree. Thom Bell helped make Philly International a huge success. Those classic string and horn arrangements was because of him. There really should be a documentary just on his accomplishments in that industry.

It was collective, but lead by Black producers, with sensibilities to the Black audience. Thom Bell, Leon Huff, and Kenny Gamble were all frozen out of Cameo Parkway fir the longest. Once they got opportunities to influence the songs, the productions, the technological focus, the PHILLY Style changed. Thom Bell's first records were him playing ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS and Multi-tracking. They weren't his best, but he was developing his style... from what he felt, from what he experienced. Just because you direct a white musician to play the music the way you want it played, doesn't make it white music. Listen to Hall and Oates' take on a few G&H and/or Bell songs. NOWHERE NEAR as soulful. They're nice, yes, enjoyable, yes, but trust a believe... if the H&O versions had been the original versions, they would not be as iconic. Even the Baker/Harris/Young productions don't have the same depth as the Bell or Gamble/Huff productions. Same musicians, good singers, but the musical hear approving of the final product is where the rubber meets the road. It was just racism keeping them out. Check YOU MAKE FEEL LIKE DANCING. Racism at its finest when it won a Grammy for Best R&B song... in the 1970s!

hollidayevery you are so right

Because Philly international record label was located in Philly and they recorded all of their songs in Philly and also they were a multi platinum selling group for years singing the Philly soul sound music.

"I Ain't Jivin, I'm Jammin" - Leon Huff

@@bobwatson1162 No that's not right ; I ain't jiving I'm jamming starts on 3.53 min. I mean the ( piano) track that starts on 7.59 min

Michael learned from EVERYONE around him... and he was constantly learning... Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Motown, Philly International... funneled through his own funky soul.