The moment I fell in love with music

Rest in peace, Thom Bell

I was ten the summer of 1968 when I first heard “La La Means I Love You” by the Phily R&B and soul group The Delfonics. It came blasting out of my transistor radio on WFIL, introduced by my favorite DJ at the time, George Michael.

I was aware of music before that, but nothing ever moved me quite like that song. Co-written by legendary producer, songwriter, musician and arranger Thom Bell, with The Delfonics’ lead singer William Hart, “La La” hit me hard.

The opening drum riff signals the start of something special. I’ve often heard music fans (and critics) comment that the opening snare drum sound of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone,” was “the shot heard around the world,” and I would argue that the opening drum sound of “La La” is equally as important as the Dylan classic.

With it’s string driven symphonic soul, Hart’s comforting falsetto, the cuddling three part vocal harmonies and lyrical honesty, at 3 minutes and ten seconds, it’s been my favorite song of all time since I first heard it some 50+ years ago. At the end of the song, when Hart croons “Come on and take my hand,” you can picture the physicalness and promise that love can bring. To this day, it moves me unlike few other songs have.

While The Delfonics lead singer William Hart passed away in July of this year, we’re saddened to have learned of the passing of Thom Bell, the Grammy award winning songwriter, producer, arranger and musician who helped create The Sound Of Philadelphia in the late 60s to mid-70s, along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Bell was 79.

Bell was an important architect of the Sound Of Philadelphia (TSOP), working closely with Gamble & Huff over the years in the halls and studios of Philly’s Sigma Sound Studio, where they created dozens of hit R&B and soul songs.

Bell, whose birth name was Thomas Randolph Bell, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to West Philadelphia as a child. As a teenager, Bell began singing with Gamble and together they started performing together in the group Kenny & The Romeos.

Bell wrote, produced, and arranged hundreds of songs, most notably for The Delfonics and The Stylistics - both groups from Philadelphia - and The Spinners. For The Delfonics, he co-wrote hits including “La La” “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love),” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).” For The Stylistics, he teamed up with Philadelphia native Linda Creed to co-write hit songs including “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” “Break Up To Make Up” (co-written with Creed and Kenny Gamble), and “I’m Stone In Love With You” (co-written with Creed and Anthony Bell). He also co-wrote and produced hits like “Rubberband Man,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” by The Spinners, and produced “Then Came You,” featuring Dionne Warwick.

It was at Philadelphia’s Cameo-Parkway studios where Bell first honed his craft, developed over time in collaboration with Gamble & Huff. Over his career, Bell worked with many bands associated with TSOP and Philly International Records (PIR), and worked with Elton John, David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, Dusty Springfield, Johnny Mathis, Chubby Checker, and others. His songs have been sampled by many hip-hop artists, most notably The Fugees, and have appeared in several notable movies including Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.

In 1975, Bell won the very first Grammy award given for Producer of The Year, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on the Philadelphia Walk of Fame. Most importantly, he leaves behind a legacy of some of the greatest R&B and soul songs ever written and recorded. The songs are synonymous with Philly, influencing millions of music fans around the world with his deep sense of melody, orchestral soul, lush arrangements, and magnificent songcraft and beautful arrangements. These are love songs supreme.