This is Fresh Air. I'm David B. Kooley, Infateri Gross.

Tom Bell, one of the principal architects of the Philly Sound,

died late last month at the age of 79.

Today, we're going to listen to Terry's 2006 interview with him.

Bell was a songwriter, a ranger, and producer,

and a classically trained pianist.

You can hear that influence in his work.

He brought violin, harp, French horn, oboe, cittar, timpani,

and other instruments to his arrangements.

He arranged drowning in the sea of love by Joe Simon

and backstabbers by the OJs.

Before that, he worked with the Philadelphia label Camille Records.

He co-wrote the stylistics hits, You Are Everything,

Betcha by Golly Wow, Break Up to Makeup,

and You Make Me Feel Brand New.

For the spinners, he co-composed I'll be around.

When Bell was a teenager, he conducted an arranged

for fellow Philadelphia and Chubby Checker,

whose dance records included the number one hit, The Twist.

Bell was born in Jamaica and moved to Philly as a child.

In 2020, a compilation album of Bell's work called

Ready or Not, Philly's Soul Arrangements and Productions

...