I’ve been listening to the sounds of Thom Bell since I was a kid & have yet to grow tired of listening to his productions. I’ve compiled playlists of various producers from Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis to Gamble & Huff, but it’s Bell’s music the goes the deepest. This masterful producer, arranger, and songwriter, with a  preference for substance over style has gifted us with an unforgettable musical legacy. Though he was never in the limelight driving the ladies crazy  like Marvin Gaye or Smokey Robinson, his work behind the scenes made him arguably the most important figure of soul music throughout the 1970s. Born in Jamaica but raised in Philadelphia, Bell found his love for music very early in life while studying classical piano at the age of 5. Working diligently throughout his childhood, Bell’s recognition rose fast and he was conducting and arranging songs for local groups by his late teens. When Bell caught his first break and a major...