Bell worked on more than 30 gold records from 1968-78 as Philadelphia became a center of soul music.
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer
FILE - Musicians Kenneth Gamble, left, Leon Huff, center, and Thom Bell stand together at Gamble and Huff Music, on Broad Street, in Philadelphia, on Thursday, May 30, 2013. Bell has died.
Bell, often collaborating with lyricist Linda Creed, worked on more than 30 gold records from 1968-78 as Philadelphia became as much a center of soul music as Detroit and Motown Records were in the 1960s. He was an independent producer but so vital to the Philadelphia International Records empire built by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff that the publishing company they formed together was called Mighty Three Music.
The Spinners’ chart-topping “Then Came You” featured Dionne Warwick, who had been skeptical that the up-tempo ballad would catch on. Bell tore a dollar bill in half and got Warwick to agree that whoever guessed wrong about the song would have to inscribe an apology on their half of the money and send it to the other. Bell would long hold on to the signed note he received from Warwick.
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