Producer Tom Bell, who co-created “The Sound of Philadelphia” with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff as the Big Three, has died at the age of 79. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“Tommy and I have been best friends for over 60 years,” Gamble said in a press statement. “When we first met we decided to write songs together and form a singing duo ‘Kenny and Tommy’ and then our band Romeos… He was a very talented guy and my dear Friend. Rest in peace, man.”
“Thom Bell is my favorite musician, arranger, songwriter and record producer!” adds Leon Huff. “It was a great honor and pleasure to work creatively with him and to be his business partner. Rest in peace.”
Some of Bell’s greatest hits when he started Philly Soul in the ’70s included songs like “La-La Means I Love You” by the Delfonics, “Rubberband Man” by the Spinners, “Backstabber” by the O’Jays, and “The Stylistics.” I’ll Be Around” and “Golly Wow’s Betcha”. He also produced Elton John’s song Mama Can’t Buy You Love.
For his work, Bell received a Grammy for Producer of the Year in 1975 and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2017, stylist Russell Thompkins honored Bell for his tribute to the music legend in a Grammy interview, calling him “the biggest influence in my career.”
“That’s when I started learning the trade,” he said. “What I learned from talking to him, it stayed with me throughout my career.”
The Big Three are interviewed for the Philly International Records documentary directed by Sam Pollard, in which they describe the trio’s work to bring Philadelphia music to the world.
“Six years later, we are so proud to finally share our life stories with the world and showcase all the hard work that went into creating this beautiful music,” the trio said in a statement earlier this year. “Our old and new fans alike will have a unique insight into the production of The Philadelphia Sound with the theme of empowerment and love for ‘people everywhere’ because we’ve always had a ‘message in music’!!!’”
