LeRoy Bell & Friends

It’s being called “Acoustic Soul”, as the international buzz gets into full swing. LeRoy Bell is garnering praises after years of writing for other artists. Now, pursuing a solo career with his latest CD titled “Spending Time,” it’s a blend of smoky soulful vocals and acoustic guitar accompanied by cello. This latest CD is very personal and quite different from songs written for other artists.

Over the past year LeRoy has had the pleasure to open for Sergio Mendes and Kenny Loggins, Patti Larkin, Colin Hay, Al Green, Leon Russell, & Mavis Staples.

LeRoy’s latest song to be covered is a song he co-wrote with Thom Bell and Casey James for the legendary Elton John. The title “Are You Ready For Love”, remixed by Fat Boy Slim was released in the U.K. this past summer. The song debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Charts for the week of August 31, 2003. Elton most performed the song on the “World Idol” television show, which aired worldwide on January 1, 2004.

LeRoy Martez Bell started singing and playing the guitar at the age of eight in Darmstadt, Germany. His father, a Sergeant in the United States army, moved the family back and forth from Europe to the U.S. several times before retiring in Tacoma, Washington.

Shortly after, LeRoy moved to Seattle. Although under age at the time, he began playing the local club circuit at night and honing his song-writing skills during the day under the watchful eyes of his uncle Thom Bell. Thom Bell, a celebrated producer-songwriter for The Stylistics (“Betcha By Golly Wow”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”), The Spinners (“I’ll Be Around”), the Delphonics and The O’Jays.

He taught LeRoy and later Casey James the do’s and don’ts of song writing. LeRoy and Casey also known as Bell & James went on to write songs for many great artists, such as Elton John, Rita Marley & The I Threes (wife of the late Bob Marley), Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, The Spinners, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and Lou Rawls, just to name a few.

Later, Bell & James signed to A & M records as artists and released two albums one of which produced the top ten hit “Livin’ It Up Friday Night” which was recently sampled by P. Diddy & Co. for the latest Notorious B.I.G. album, “Born Again.”

“Still”, the lead track on the 2002 release “This is Me…Then” by Jennifer Lopez, samples more of LeRoy’s earlier work with Bell and James.