Producer, composer, songwriter, and arranger Thom Bell is shown here in New York City arriving at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. On this night, he was inducted into the 2006 Songwriters Hall of Fame during their Awards presentation.

In 2016, Mr. Bell entered the Musicians Hall of Fame.

Now in 2025, we can add Rock Hall of Fame to this hit makers fantastic resume. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced Bell's induction in April.

He is in the Rock - Hall category: Musical Excellence.

Folks may know his name from on-air references shared by radio DJ's with their broadcast audience.

If you read record liner notes, (or eyeball audio streaming notes), you surely have seen his name.

Thom Bell worked with all of the popular soulful acts in and out of Philadelphia, PA. Like Barry White, he was an innovator, using instrumentation and arrangements that charted fresh directions for R&B.

My favorite Bell quote: "Invariably, when other producers and musicians would say that my sounds were odd for R&B, I would just tell them, 'I don’t do R&B — I do music.'"

Dionne Warwick, The Spinners, Elton John, Dusty Springfield, The O'Jays, The Delfonics, The Stylistics and too many more to mention were touched by the magic of Thom Bell.

In 1986, Bell along with his songwriting partner, the late Linda Creed, wrote this song for Phyllis Hyman, "Old Friend." This ballad has a special meaning for me.

In my book, Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth, you'll see a picture of me and Phyllis after she performed at a concert in which I introduced her on stage.

We lost Thom Bell in 2022. He is a giant of late twentieth century contemporary music. If you are new to his legacy, discover on YouTube his vibe through the artists he worked with.

Here are some other thoughts about Thom Bell and the music personalities he's worked with in other articles that I've written... 

1. Elton John Diamonds
2. Jerry Butler: The Ice Man Cometh and More
3. The Delfonics Debut Harmonic Philly Soul
4. Philadelphia International Records Studio Saved From Inferno
5. Dionne Warwick Tracks The Cat To Philly
6. Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia
7. Five Fine Phyllis Hyman Favorites
8. Patti LaBelle and Smokey Robinson To Host The Pioneer Awards

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