The premier episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café is honored to present Jerry Bell. A legendary singer and martial artist. We discuss how he got started in both martial arts and as a singer. We have a great treat as he sings the song Just Believe in Love!
Jerry Bell is a stylist in all facets of life, whether it’s singing, martial arts, or acting. His passion for music emanates from early vocal training while growing up in Philadelphia in a musical family which has produced gold and platinum albums for two decades. One of his brothers is Archie Bell of Archie Bell & The Drells, which has the hits; “Tighten Up,” “Showdown,” “I Can’t Stop Dancing,” “Let’s Groove,” and many more. Also, starting with his own group while still in high school, known as The Delusions. Jerry’s vocal skills came from his mother, who was a church singer, Jerry also had a band out of Miami, Florida named the Miami Ocean Liners, which later became KC & The Sunshine Band. As life would have it, he would go back to Philadelphia and join forces with his best friends McFadden & Whitehead who were the top writers for Philadelphia International Records, recording such hits as “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” “Bad Luck,” “Back Stabbers,” “Cowboys to Girls,” “For The Love Of Money,” and many more.
Jerry would later move to California were he would become friends with Marvin Gaye and learned many vocal and stage techniques as well as singing background vocals for Marvin Gaye. Later he would team up with more of his friends such as James Baker, Austin Lander and Tony Churchill and began to sing lead and backup vocals for New Birth. After leaving The New Birth in 1979, he then would join up again with other friends, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Marlon McClain and become one of the lead vocalist for Motown recording artist Dazz Band. He has also recorded as a solo artist in 1980 on MCA Records, releasing his solo LP “Winter Love Affair”.
Prior to signing with Motown, The Dazz Band was formerly known as Kinsman Dazz and includes the merging of Bell. In 1981, Jerry Bell was invited into the group as one of the vocalists by Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind & Fire. Jerry had a solo LP on MCA at that time, called “Winter Love Affair,” but joined the group as well.
New Birth, originally called the The Nite-Liters, was formed by Tony Churchill and Harvey Fuqua. In 1975, Tony Churchill, James Baker, and Austin Lander asked Jerry Bell to join the group. Jerry sang for New Birth 1976 until 1979.
Influences
Mother Mattie Bell, older brother Archie Bell, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, David Porter, John Whitehead, Kenny Gamble, Larry Graham, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Theodore Life, Al Jarreau, Bobby Womack, The Delfonics, The Moments, The Temprees, Bobby Harris, Reggie Andrews, Tony Churchill, Austin Lander, James Baker, Jimmy Bo Horn, The Miami Oceanliners.
Sounds Like
The Delfonics, Will Downing, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, The Unifics, The Dazz Band, The Gap Band, Marvin Gaye, New Birth, The Temprees, The Moments.
Instagram: @jerrybellofficial