LeRoy Bell (born August 8, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter. He and his friend Casey James played in Special Blend, and then went on to form their own duo

Bell and James Bell and James were an United States, American soul music, soul musical ensemble, group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed by LeRoy Bell (drums, guitar) and Casey James (guitar, bass guitar, bass, keyboard instrument, keyboards). Career Both ...

, also composing songs that were hits for other artists most notably two charting hit singles for

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

. Later Bell became a member of the trio Only Friends. In 2011, Bell applied for the American ''

The X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003 ...

'' and was chosen for the Final 16 and went on to the live shows being mentored by

Nicole Scherzinger Nicole Scherzinger (; born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente, June 29, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, one of the best-selling g ...

. He was eliminated after the fifth live show finishing 8th overall in the inaugural season of the American ''The X Factor'' when he was in bottom three with

Marcus Canty Marcus Canty (born January 22, 1991) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B and soul music, soul singer and dancer. He finished in fourth place in the The X Factor (U.S. season 1), first season of ''The X Factor (U.S.), The X Factor USA''. Earl ...

and Lakoda Rayne.

Background

LeRoy Martez Bell was born in Florida on August 8, 1951. He is a son of Leroy and Janice Marie (Zaragoza) Bell. His father is the half-brother of music producer

Thom Bell Thomas Randolph Bell (January 27th, 1943 – December 22, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, pianist, and composer known as one of the creators of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s. He found success as a producer ...

. As a military family, they moved frequently, until settling in Tacoma, Washington in 1965.

Bell and James

Bell and James was a duo soul group formed by LeRoy Bell (on drums and guitar) and Casey James (on guitar, bass and keyboards). They both had played for a while in the band Special Blend, before they decided to team up together as Bell and James. The duo released three albums: ''Bell and James'' (1978), ''Only Make Believe'' (1979) and ''In Black and White'' (1980), and had a number of singles, the most successful and well-known being "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" released on

A&M Records A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

. It reached #15 on the U.S. Hot 100. LeRoy also released his own EP "Spending Time" on his own label, Martez Music Group, releasing "Two Sides to Every Story" from the EP as a single.

Songwriting

LeRoy Bell also co-wrote many songs for others in partnership with Casey James. They were encouraged by LeRoy's uncle

who owned Mighty Three Music, a music production company along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The latter were a famous composing duo collaboration

Gamble and Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

to whom Bell and James provided some of their compositions. Their songs were recorded by a number of artists including: * The Spinners *

The O'Jays The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor hi ...

(notably in "

This Time Baby "This Time Baby" is a song written by the songwriting team Bell and James which, after being introduced by the O'Jays in 1978, became a 1979 disco hit for Jackie Moore. O'Jays version The O'Jays 1978 album release ''So Full of Love'' introduced ...

") *

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

Rita Marley Rita may refer to: People * Rita (given name) * Rita (Indian singer) (born 1984) * Rita (Israeli singer) (born 1962) * Rita (Japanese singer) * Eliza Humphreys (1850–1938), wrote under the pseudonym Rita Places * Djarrit, also known as Rita, ...

Gladys Knight & the Pips Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B, soul and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early 1950s. Starting out as simpl ...

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

The Three Degrees The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Helen Scott, Valerie Holi ...

With Elton John
Most notably, two of the LeRoy Bell songs were recorded by

. One was "

Mama Can't Buy You Love "Mama Can't Buy You Love" is a hit single for English musician Elton John from the EP '' The Thom Bell Sessions''. The song was written by LeRoy Bell and Casey James (of Bell and James fame). Bowing at number 69 on the Hot 100 on 9 June 1979, ...

" and the other "

Are You Ready for Love "Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by English musician Elton John in 1977 and first released in the UK in 1979 as the first single from the EP '' The Thom Bell Sessions''. It was written by Leroy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, a ...

". The songs, LeRoy Bell-Casey James co-compositions, appeared in " The Thom Bell Sessions" in 1977. Elton John's version of "Mama Can't Buy You Love" went to the Top 10 in the general charts and #1 on the Adult/Contemporary chart in the fall of 1979, earning Elton a Grammy Nomination for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance". His song "Are You Ready for Love" did not chart. Track list of Elton John single: *Side 1: "Are You Ready for Love" (LeRoy Bell, Thom Bell, Casey James) (8:31) *Side 2.1: "Three Way Love Affair" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) (5:31) *Side 2.2: "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) (4:03) In February 1989,

The Complete Thom Bell Sessions ''The Thom Bell Sessions'' (internationally titled as ''The Thom Bell Sessions '77'') is an Extended play, EP recorded by Elton John in the second half of 1977, but was not released by MCA Records until June 1979. The project was a departure fo ...

was released by

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

, although it had been recorded in 1977. In addition to "Mama Can't Buy You Love" and "Are You Ready for Love", it featured three additional songs, including "Country Love Song" also co-written by LeRoy Bell. *1. "Nice and Slow" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Thom Bell) *2. "Country Love Song" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) *3. "Shine on Through" (Elton John, G. Osborne) *4. "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) *5. "Are You Ready for Love" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) *6. "Three Way Love Affair" (LeRoy Bell, Casey James) In 2003,

Fat Boy Slim Norman Quentin Cook (born Quentin Leo Cook, 31 July 1963), also known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, is an English musician, DJ, and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist f ...

mixed Elton John's single version making it to the British Singles Chart. The song also charted in many European charts. With Teddy Pendergrass
LeRoy Bell had a long-running cooperation with

Teddy Pendergrass Theodore DeReese Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010) was an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. He was born in Kingstree, South Carolina. Pendergrass spent most of his life in the Philadelphia area, and initially rose to musi ...

for whom he wrote 5 songs in three different albums: *1979: "I'll Never See Heaven Again" on the album ''

Teddy Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Tedd ...

'' *1979: "Set Me Free", also on album ''Teddy'' *1982: "Loving You Was Good" on album '' This One's for You'' *1983: "Heaven Only Knows" from the album '' Heaven Only Knows (lead song) Pendergrass album *1990: "Glad to Be Alive" from the album '' Truly Blessed'' Others: *1979:

Lou Rawls Louis Allen Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American record producer, singer, composer and actor. Rawls released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records, and had numerous charting singles, most notably his s ...

: "Bark, Bite (Fight All Night)" on the album '' Let Me Be Good to You'' *1980: Lou Rawls: "Heartache (Just When You Think You're Loved)" and "You Are" on album '' Sit Down and Talk to Me'' *1988:

Kimiko Kasai (born December 15, 1945 in Kyoto, Japan) is a retired Japanese jazz singer. Biography Kimiko was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1945. She first became interested in jazz at the age of 13 after hearing Chris Connor's song "All About Ronnie" on the radio ...

: "Love Talk" from album ''Love Talk'' (lead song) *2001: Me and You: "You Never Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)" *2002:

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

: "Still" cowritten with James and Jennifer Lopez herself in the latter's album '' This Is Me... Then''. *2005: The

Freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

: " Love on My Mind" that appears on albums ''

Shakedown Shakedown may refer to: * Shakedown (continuum mechanics), a type of plastic deformation * Shakedown (testing) or a shakedown cruise, a period of testing undergone by a ship, airplane or other craft before being declared operational * Extortion, ...

'', ''

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'' and '' Shakedown 2'' *He has also written for

Phyllis Hyman Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Hyman is best known for her music during the late 1970s through the early 1990s, some of her most notable songs were "You Know How to Love Me" ...

Solo career

Starting in the 2000s, he worked solo and toured extensively. In the process, he released various albums including his debut solo EP ''Spending Time'' (on his own label Martez Music Group), followed by ''Two Sides to Every Story'' in 2006, ''A Change Is Coming'' in 2008 and ''Traces'' in 2010. In 2011, he was part of a project ''United in Song'' affiliated to

USA For Africa United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) was the name under which 47 predominantly U.S. artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a U.S. and UK number one for ...

USA for Africa website
/ref> to bring the best in World Music to celebrate peace and unity. The project included

Angelique Kidjo Angelique or Angélique may refer to: * Angélique (given name), a French feminine name Arts and entertainment Music * Angélique (instrument), a string instrument of the lute family * ''Angélique'', a 1927 opéra bouffe by Jacques Ibert * ...

, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Aurelio Martinez with

Youssou N'Dour Youssou N'Dour (, wo, Yuusu Nduur; also known as Youssou Madjiguène Ndour; born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine describe ...

, Lila Downs, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Razia Said, Abigail Washburn & the Shanghai Restoration Project, Luisa Maita, G Love & Special Sauce, and Vieux Farka Toure and LeRoy Bell contributing tracks to ''United in Song''

LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends

LeRoy Bell also formed his band Only Friends as LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, featuring Terry Morgan on bass and Davis Martin on drums. Both are experience musicians. Morgan had played with Dee Daniels, Pat Wright & The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Dave Lewis, Thelma Houston and others, whereas Martin was previously a member of the band

Maktub Maktub is a Seattle, Washington-based music group formed in the late 1990s that combines elements of hip-hop, rhythm and blues, soul, and funk, with a sprinkling of jazz and rock. History Maktub was formed in 1996 when Davis Martin called Regg ...

''The X Factor''

In 2011, he applied for the American version of ''

'', singing the song " Lean on Me" at his audition. Becoming one of the Top 32, he performed in Judges House

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

's "

Make You Feel My Love "Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love" is a song written by Bob Dylan for his album '' Time Out of Mind'', released in September 1997. It was first released commercially in August 1997 by Billy Joel for his compilation ...

" in front of

Enrique Iglesias Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (; (born 8 May 1975) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican indie label Fonovisa and became the bestselling Spanish-language act of the decade. By the ...

and mentor

becoming one of the finalists (final 16), qualifying for the live shows in the over 30s category mentored by Scherzinger. During the live shows, he had the following performances:

Performances and results

On November 22, 2011, he was voted bottom three by public vote and had to sing for survival against Marcus Canty. He chose to sing

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

song " Don't Let Me Down". The result went to deadlock and the public vote revealed Bell had received the fewer votes and accordingly was eliminated after Live Show 5 finishing 8th overall in competition.

Discography

Albums

As part of Bell and James

*1978: ''Bell and James'' *1979: ''Only Make Believe'' *1980: ''In Black and White''

With others

*2020: ''Stony Hill'' with

G.E. Smith George Edward Smith ('' né'' Haddad; born January 27, 1952) is an American guitarist. Smith was the lead guitarist for the duo Hall & Oates during the band's heyday from 1979 to 1985, playing on five number one singles. After Hall & Oates went ...

Solo

*2004: ''Spending Time'' (EP) (on his own label Martez Music Group) *2006: ''Two Sides to Every Story'' *2008: ''A Change Is Coming'' *2010: ''Traces''

As LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends

*2007: ''Live in 3D'' *2013: ''Rock 'N Soul''

Singles

As part of Bell and James

*1979: ''Livin' It Up (Friday Night)'' *1979: ''Shakedown'' *1979: ''You Never Know What You've Got'' *1980: ''Only Make Believe''

Solo

*''Two Sides to Every Story''

Featuring

*2013: ''Miss Me'' with Paolo Noise

References

External links

LeRoy Bell Official websiteLeRoy Bell TwitterLeRoy Bell YouTubeLeRoy and His Only Friends Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Leroy 1951 births Living people American multi-instrumentalists 20th-century American singers 21st-century American singers 20th-century African-American male singers The X Factor (American TV series) contestants 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 21st-century American drummers American male guitarists 20th-century American male singers 21st-century American male singers African-American guitarists 21st-century African-American male singers Musicians from Florida