Thom Bell(1943-2022)

Composer / arranger / record producer Thom Bell is known as one of the chief architects of "The Sound Of Philadelphia". In the mid-'60s he was the house pianist at The Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia and later became musical director for Chubby Checker. In 1966 he partnered up with entrepreneur Stan Watson to produce a local group called The Delfonics. In early 1968 they had their first smash with "La-La Means I Love You", and for the next two years wrote, produced and arranged such hits for the group as "I'm Sorry", "Break Your Promise", "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time"). In late 1970 Bell broke off with the group to work with another Philadelphia group called The Stylistics, and wrote and produced songs for them for three years. He simultaneously produced The Stylistics and former Motown artists The Spinners. Between all this, he still found time to provide hit arrangements for his boyhood pal Kenny Gamble's Philadelphia-International Records.