RIP Legendary Songwriter Thom Bell, 79, Wrote Dozens of Classics for Spinners, Stylistics, Dionne Warwick, Philly Soul Groups, Elton John

I am truly saddened to report the passing of Thom Bell, the Gershwin of Philly Soul. Bell wrote so many hits, especially with his late partner Linda Creed, that he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a decade.

In fact, without Thom Bell, there would have been no Philly soul. He was so prolific and successful that he co-produced, mixed and wrote a special Elton John EP entitled The Thom Bell Sessions. Bell also produced dozens of hits, including The Spinners and Dionne Warwick on the monster Then Came You.

Thom wrote all the hits for the Stylistics, the Spinners, the Delfonics. Tracks included “Betcha By Golly Wow”, “Break Up to Make Up”, “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, “La La Means I Love You”, ” I’ll be there” and so on. What a run! His “People Make the World Go Round” for Stylistics was such a transcendent hit that it was reissued and covered by jazz artists.

Thom co-wrote “Brand New Me”, a hit for Dusty Springfield, with the great Jerry Butler (who still lives in Chicago – if you know how to reach him email me at [email protected]). , for Jerry and a song that Aretha Franklin recorded and included on her recent tours.

This is a HUGE loss for pop music. I hope the Grammys will do a special segment about Thom and his many hits.

Thom wrote so many songs, I could put all the videos in here. But he did produce The Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” which is perhaps his most classic album — and that’s saying a lot. Listen to the orchestration and vocals. That was his genius.

And here’s La La means I love you:

And my personal favorite “You are everything”: