Thom Bell, Jamaican-born soul music icon, dies at 79
Thom Bell, the legendary Jamaican-born producer and songwriter, has died aged 79.
Bell died at home in Bellingham, Washington on Thursday. No cause of death was immediately given.
A Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, he was one of the key architects of the richly-orchestrated ‘Sound of Philadelphia’ brand of soul music along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
He is credited on dozens of classics including the O’Jays’ ‘Back Stabbers’, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ ‘I Miss You’, and The Stylistics’ Betcha By Golly Wow’.
Bell was born in Jamaica in 1943 and moved as a child to Philadelphia in the United States, where he was raised with nine brothers and sisters.
His parents were both musicians, and he studied classical piano as a child.
Bell is survived by his wife Vanessa and six children.
