William Bell (singer)
{{short description|American soul singer and songwriter (born 1939)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = William Bell
| image = William Bell soul singer 1971.JPG
| caption = Bell in 1971
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = William Yarbrough
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|07|16|mf=yes}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| instrument = Vocals
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 1957–present
| label = Stax Records, Wilbe Records
| website = http://www.williambell.com/
}}
William Bell (né Yarbrough; born July 16, 1939) is an American soul singer and songwriter. As a performer, he is best known for his debut single, 1961's "You Don't Miss Your Water"; 1968's top 10 hit in the UK "Private Number", a duet with Judy Clay; and his only US top 40 hit, 1976's "Tryin' to Love Two", which also hit No. 1 on the R&B chart. Upon the death of Otis Redding, Bell released the well-received memorial song "A Tribute to a King".
As a songwriter, Bell co-authored the Chuck Jackson hit "Any Other Way" (which was a cover since Bell issued it first) as a follow-up to "You Don't Miss Your Water"; Billy Idol's 1986 hit "To Be a Lover", which was first a hit for Bell under its original title "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"; and the blues classic "Born Under A Bad Sign", popularized by both Albert King and Cream.
Although he was a longtime recording artist for Stax Records, he is unrelated to the label's onetime president, Al Bell.
In 2017, Bell was awarded a Grammy for Best Americana Album for his record This Is Where I Live. He performed his hit "Born Under a Bad Sign" alongside Gary Clark Jr. at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Bell was also featured on Rolling Stone{{'}}s "Best of the Grammys" for that year.
Career
Bell was born in Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Ankeny|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/william-bell-mn0000578744/biography|title=William Bell Biography|publisher=AllMusic|date=n.d.|access-date=May 19, 2024}} He took the last name "Bell" as a stage name in honor of his grandmother, whose first name was Belle.
Bell sang in church as a child and considered himself a student of The Soul Stirrers, the popular gospel group led by Sam Cooke. At age ten, he began songwriting with the original composition "Alone on a Rainy Night". At the age of 14, Bell won a talent contest and began making a name for himself singing in Memphis-area clubs.
He made his first leap into the music scene backing Rufus Thomas. In 1957, Bell recorded his first sides as a member of the Del Rios, a teenage vocal group that caught the eye of Stax Records.
Bell was an early signing on Stax Records initially as a songwriter.{{cite web|url=http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/|title=Artists|publisher=Stax Records|access-date=2016-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121020534/http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/ |archive-date=November 21, 2016}} Other notable Stax Records artists include Otis Redding,{{cite web |url=http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/otis-redding/|title=Otis Redding|publisher=Stax Records|access-date=2016-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011163305/http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/otis-redding/|archive-date=October 11, 2016}} Sam and Dave,{{cite web|url=http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/sam-dave/|title=Sam & Dave|publisher=Stax Records|access-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011161350/http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/sam-dave/|archive-date=October 11, 2016}} Isaac Hayes,{{cite web|url=http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/isaac-hayes/|title=Isaac Hayes|publisher=Stax Records|access-date=2016-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011161334/http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/isaac-hayes/|archive-date=October 11, 2016}} and The Staple Singers.{{cite web|url=http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/the-staple-singers/|title=The Staple Singers|publisher=Stax Records|date=December 19, 2000|access-date=2016-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011161400/http://www.staxrecords.com/artists/the-staple-singers/|archive-date=October 11, 2016}}
Bell was the first male solo act to be signed to Stax Records and he was able to release several singles before joining the military. He continued to record singles while on break from deployment, including the song "Marching Off to War".{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://www.williambell.com/about |website=William Bell}}
It was only after Bell finished his stint in the military that he was finally able to release his debut album,{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Noel |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/william-bell-the-soul-of-a-bell-16683|title=William Bell: The Soul of a Bell · Permanent Records|website=The A.V. Club|date=December 19, 2006 |access-date=2016-10-18}} 1967's The Soul of a Bell, on Stax Records.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/william-bell/1198111|title=William Bell |website=Apple Music|date=March 29, 2024|access-date=May 19, 2024}} Bell's top 20 single "Everybody Loves a Winner" was on this album.
Bell was a close friend of fellow Stax recording artist Otis Redding. Bell was supposed to be on the same tragic 1967 flight that led to Redding's death. "It started snowing so bad in Chicago, the promoter up there canceled my show," recalls Bell. The tragedy led to a collaboration between Bell and Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. & the M.G.'s) who Bell knew from high school and church. Bell and Jones released "A Tribute to a King" in honor of Redding and it quickly became a hit.{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/review-at-79-william-bell-proves-to-be-consummate-soul-man-at-the-dakota/490695081/|title=At 79, William Bell proves to be consummate soul man at the Dakota in Minneapolis|website=Star Tribune |last=Bream|first=Jon|date=August 13, 2018|access-date=July 22, 2019}}
In 1967, Bell co-wrote an unintended Christmas hit, "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday". The song remains one of Bell's most-recorded hits and serves as a classic R&B Christmas song.{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/soul-man-william-bell-rides-grammy-winning-comeback-into-minneapolis-and-duluth/490471361/|title=Soul man William Bell rides Grammy-winning comeback into Minneapolis and Duluth|website=Star Tribune|date=August 9, 2018 }} In 2017, Hot Press magazine named the hit the "Greatest Christmas record of all time".{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/the-greatest-christmas-record-of-them-all-21670996|title=The Greatest Christmas Record of Them All?|first=Pat|last=Carty|website=Hot Press}}
Bell moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1969 and started Peachtree Record Company, his short-lived soul label.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
During his time in Atlanta, he took acting lessons and played Stanley Kowalski in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Bell later signed a two-year deal with Mercury Records, where he released the 1977 single "Trying to Love Two", which hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 10 on the pop charts, and sold a million copies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vinylmeplease.com/magazine/soul-william-bell/|title=The Soul of William Bell|date=March 23, 2018|website=Vinyl Me Please}}
In 1985, he founded another label, Wilbe, and issued Passion, which found its most receptive audiences in the UK.
Two years later, Bell was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's R&B Pioneer Award that same year. Starting in 1992, Bell took a hiatus from the recording studio, while still performing regularly. In 2000, he released an album of all-new material on Wilbe entitled A Portrait Is Forever. In 2003, he was honored with the W.C. Handy Heritage Award. It wasn't until six years after his previous album that he released the album New Lease on Life.
=2010s to present=
In 2016, Bell reactivated the Stax Records label to release a new album. Produced by John Leventhal, This Is Where I Live featured Bell performing a batch of new songs, along with a revived recording of "Born Under a Bad Sign". In 2017, the album was awarded a Grammy for Best Americana Album,{{cite web|url=https://theboot.com/william-bell-best-americana-album-2017-grammys-awards/|title=William Bell Wins Best Americana Album at 2017 Grammy Awards|first=Courtney|last=Carr|website=The Boot|date=February 12, 2017 }} which took Bell's career to new heights including a featured performance alongside other legendary Stax acts at BBC's 50 Years of Soul event at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e656q9|title=Prom 65: Stax Records: 50 Years of Soul|publisher=BBC Music Events}} Additionally, Bell was one of the final performances at BB King's Blues Club in NYC before it closed in the spring of 2018.{{cite web|url=https://relix.com/blogs/detail/william_bell_at_bb_kings_a_gallery/|title=William Bell at B.B. Kings (A Gallery)|date=April 23, 2018|website=Relix Media}}
Bell was featured in the 2014 documentary film Take Me to the River that explored the heart of the enduring Memphis music scene. He was featured alongside other artists including Bobby Bland, Mavis Staples, and Snoop Dogg.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/memphis-music-documentary-take-me-to-the-river-now-on-netflix/|title=Memphis Music Documentary, 'Take Me to the River,' Now on Netflix|first=J. D.|last=Nash|date=August 19, 2016}} Bell is currently involved in the sequel to the popular documentary, and he calls it "a powerful little film".
In 2016, Bell recorded This Is Where I Live, his first major label album in over 30 years.{{cite web|last=Bell|first=William |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/24/471570776/songs-we-love-william-bell-the-three-of-me|title=Songs We Love: William Bell, 'The Three of Me': The Record|publisher=NPR|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=2016-10-18}} Bell was awarded a Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2017, which, in turn, had such a strong effect on his streaming data that Rolling Stone called him "the biggest winner of the night".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/grammys-2017-20-best-and-worst-moments-192656/|title=Grammys 2017: 20 Best and Worst Moments| first1=Christopher R. |last1=Weingarten |first2=Hank |last2=Shteamer |first3=Brittany |last3=Spanos |first4=Suzy |last4=Exposito |first5=Maura |last5=Johnston |author5-link=Maura Johnston |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 13, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}
His song "You Don't Miss Your Water" is featured in the trailer and the first episode of the Cinemax TV series Quarry, which debuted in 2016.{{cite web|last=Zusel|first=Yvonne|url=http://www.myajc.com/news/entertainment/music/william-bell-and-the-persistence-of-soul-power/npYh3/|title=William Bell and the persistence of soul power|website=Myajc.com|date=December 3, 2015|access-date=2016-10-18}}
On September 1, 2017, age 78, Bell performed live at the Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in a tribute concert to 50 years of Stax Records synonymous with Southern Soul music.
Bell spent time in 2017 and 2018 touring with a group of featured artists from Take Me to the River. The touring group was named one of the "10 Bands to See This Year" by Parade magazine.{{Cite web|url=https://parade.com/633072/laurawhitmore/musical-new-years-resolutions-10-bands-to-see-this-year/|title=Musical New Year's Resolutions: 10 Bands to See This Year|first=Laura B.|last=Whitmore|date=December 27, 2017|website=Parade}}
In 2017, Bell performed twice on NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. He performed with his own band and again with the touring Take Me to the River group.
Bell released the single "In a Moment of Weakness" in 2018 as part of the Amazon Original Produced By series. His song was produced by the Grammy Award-winning Matt Ross-Spang.
Bell performed at the Mempho Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee on October 6, 2018, as part of a tribute set dedicated to Royal Studios. In 2019, Bell collaborated with Southern Avenue on their single "We've Got the Music".{{cite web|url=http://www.williambell.com/news|title=News|website=Williambell.com|date=May 6, 2023 }}
Bell performed at the 2019 Blues Music Awards, where he was nominated for Best Soul Blues Male Artist.{{cite web|url=https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/|title=Blues Music Awards|first=Robin|last=McKay|website=Blues.org}}
Guitar legend Eric Clapton released a video for his 2018 cover of Bell's holiday song "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday".{{Cite web|url=https://jambands.com/news/2019/12/06/eric-clapton-releases-video-for-holiday-song-everyday-will-be-like-a-holiday/|title=Eric Clapton Releases Video for Holiday Song "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday"|date=December 6, 2019|website=Jambands.com|access-date=February 24, 2021}} Bell joined several other soul legends for B. B. King's tribute concert at the Capitol Theatre on February 16, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://blackbirdpresents.com/concert/b-b-king-the-thrill-is-gone/|title=B.B. King The Thrill Is Gone|website=Blackbirdpresents.com|access-date=February 24, 2021}} A few months later, the National Endowment for the Arts named Bell one of their 2020 fellows, the "nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. These lifetime honor awards of $25,000 are given in recognition of both artistic excellence and efforts to sustain cultural traditions for future generations."{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/news/2020/national-endowment-arts-announces-2020-recipients-nation%E2%80%99s-highest-honor-folk-and|title=National Endowment for the Arts Announces 2020 Recipients of Nation's Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts | NEA |website=arts.gov|date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625102944/https://www.arts.gov/news/2020/national-endowment-arts-announces-2020-recipients-nation%E2%80%99s-highest-honor-folk-and|archive-date=June 25, 2020}}
In mid-2023, Bell released One Day Closer to Home on his own Wilbe Records label, cited by critics as "a master at work".{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/william-bell-one-day-closer|title=William Bell: One Day Closer to Home (Album Review)|date=April 5, 2023|website=Popmatters.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/album-review-william-bell-keeps-soul-chops-sharp-on-one-day-closer-to-home/|title=Album Review: William Bell Keeps Soul Chops Sharp on 'One Day Closer to Home'|website=Nodepression.com|date=April 13, 2023 }}
In 2024, the Recording Academy announced that Bell's 1961 hit single "You Don't Miss Your Water" would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which recognizes recordings that "exhibit qualitative or historical significance".{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/news/grammy-hall-fame-2024-recordings-inducted-lauryn-hill-guns-n-roses|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame 2024 Inductees Announced: Recordings By Lauryn Hill, Guns N' Roses, Donna Summer, De La Soul & More |website=Grammy.com}}
Covered by
- Linda Ronstadt covered "Everybody Loves a Winner" on her 1973 album Don't Cry Now.{{cite web|author=Linda Ronstadt |url=https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Cry-Now-LINDA-RONSTADT/dp/B002UPQ1TM|title=Linda Ronstadt – Don't Cry Now|publisher=Amazon|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- Homer Simpson of The Simpsons sang "Born Under a Bad Sign" on the 1990 album The Simpsons Sing the Blues.
- Cream covered "Born Under a Bad Sign" on their 1968 album Wheels of Fire.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_j8h_gAptE|title=Homer Simpson – Born Under a Bad Sign|via=YouTube|date=September 18, 2010|access-date=2016-10-18}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}
- Jimi Hendrix covered "Born Under a Bad Sign" on his album Blues, released posthumously in 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.jimihendrix.com/music/blues/|title=Blues | The Official Jimi Hendrix Site|website=Jimihendrix.com|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- Etta James covered "Born Under a Bad Sign" on her album Life, Love, and the Blues released in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Born-Under-a-Bad-Sign/dp/B00306ZECA|title=Born Under a Bad Sign: Jimi Hendrix: MP3 Downloads|publisher=Amazon|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- 911 covered "Private Number" for their 1999 album There It Is.
- Warren Haynes covered "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" on his 2011 album Man in Motion.{{cite web|url=http://streamd.hitparade.ch/cdimages/william_bell-everyday_will_be_like_a_holiday_s.jpg|format=JPG|title=Photographic image of "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" record label|website=Streamd.hitparade/ch|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- Carole King covered "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" on her 2011 album A Holiday Carole.
- Hall & Oates covered "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" on their 2006 album Home for Christmas.
- The Byrds covered "You Don't Miss Your Water" on their 1968 album Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
- The Revelations and Tre Williams covered "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" on the 2012 soundtrack of the film The Man with the Iron Fists.
- Robert Cray covered "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" on his 2005 album Twenty.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000655580|title=Robert Cray – Twenty: Review|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|publisher=AllMusic}}
- Melissa Etheridge covered "I Forgot to Be Your Lover", "Any Other Way", and "Born Under a Bad Sign" on her 2016 album Memphis Rock and Soul.{{cite web|url=https://www.bluesmagazine.nl/melissa-etheridge-memphis-rock-and-soul/|title=Melissa Etheridge – MEmphis Rock and Soul|website=Blues Magazine|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=July 22, 2019}}
- Brian Eno covered "You Don't Miss Your Water" on the soundtrack to the Jonathan Demme film Married to the Mob.
- Bruce Springsteen covered "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" and "Any Other Way" on his 2022 album Only the Strong Survive.
- Delbert & Glen covered "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" on their 1972 album Delbert & Glen
- The Black Keys covered "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" on their 2024 album Ohio Players.{{Cite web |title=The Black Keys – I Forgot To Be Your Lover (Official Lyric Video) | date=February 8, 2024 | via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV6RnQOPTN4 |access-date=2024-02-09 |language=en}}{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=February 9, 2024 |title=The Black Keys Beg for Forgiveness on 'I Forgot to Be Your Lover' Cover |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/black-keys-i-forgot-to-be-a-lover-ohio-players-1234965260/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 13, 2024}}
Awards and honors
- W.C. Handy Heritage Award from the Memphis Music Foundation (2003){{cite web|url=http://memphismusichalloffame.com/inductee/wchandy/|title=W.C. Handy | Memphis Music Hall of Fame|website=memphismusichalloffame.com|date=November 10, 2014 }}
- BMI Songwriters Award (2003){{cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2003_bmi_urban_awards_photos|title=2003 BMI Urban Awards: Photos|date=August 5, 2003|website=BMI.com}}
- Featured in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (2003){{cite web|url=https://www.parlemag.com/2017/03/stax-museum-soul-music/|title=Stax Museum Is Dedicated To Telling The Story of American Soul Music|first=Tomeka|last=Allgood|website=Parlemag.com|date=March 3, 2017}}
- Lifetime Achievement Award from Americana Music Association (2016){{Cite web|url=https://americanamusic.org/news/americana-music-association-announces-lifetime-achievement-honorees|title=Americana Music Association Announces Lifetime Achievement Honorees|website=Americanamusic.org|date=August 30, 2016}}
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee (2016){{cite web|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/memphis-music-beat/2016/09/08/memphis-music-hall-of-fame-announces-2016-inductees/90587710/|title=Memphis Music Hall of Fame announces 2016 inductees|website=The Commercial Appeal}}
- Grammy Award win: Best Americana Album for This Is Where I Live (2017)
- Grammy Award nomination: Best Traditional R&B Performance for "The Three of Me" (2017)
- Four Blues Music Award nominations: Album (This Is Where I Live), Soul Blues Album (This Is Where I Live), Soul Blues Male Artist (2017) (The Blues Foundation, 2018), Best Soul Blues Male Artist (2019)
- Epitome of Soul Award presented to Bell by Stevie Wonder at The Consortium MMT event at the Horseshoe Tunica (2017){{cite web|url=https://mmgmemphis.com/david-porter-friends-event-honor-william-bell-2017-epitome-soul-award-november-11-horseshoe-tunica/|title='David Porter & Friends' Event to Honor William Bell with 2017 Epitome of Soul Award on November 11 at Horseshoe Tunica|website=Mmgmemphis.com|date=October 11, 2017}}
- National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (2020){{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/list?title=&field_year_value=2020|title=NEA National Heritage Fellowships 2020|author= |website=arts.gov|publisher=National Endowment for the Arts|access-date=October 12, 2020}}
Notable performances
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. (2011){{cite web|url=http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonian-folklife-festival-feature-program-rhythm-and-blues|title=Smithsonian Folklife Festival to Feature Program on Rhythm and Blues | Newsdesk|website=Newsdesk.si.edu|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- Memphis Symphony Orchestra (2012){{cite web|url=http://memphissymphony.org/default.aspx?p=42167&evtid=67707:10/13/2012|title=STAX! The Memphis Sound|website=Memphissymphony.org|date=October 13, 2012|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- "You Don't Miss Your Water" at the White House for "In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul" (2013){{cite web|title=William Bell Performs "You Don't Miss Your Water" at in Performance at the White House|via=YouTube |date=August 25, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l97vpagft7Y|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/l97vpagft7Y|archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-02-18}}{{cbignore}}
- Billboard Live in Tokyo (2015){{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/events/2015/01/26/music-guide/william-bell-billboard-live-tokyo/#.VzDQQRWDGko|title=William Bell @ Billboard Live Tokyo – the Japan Times|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911150337/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/events/2015/01/26/music-guide/william-bell-billboard-live-tokyo/|archive-date=September 11, 2016}}
- Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony alongside Justin Timberlake (2015){{cite magazine|last=Kreps |first=Daniel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-justin-timberlakes-memphis-music-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony-20151018|title=Watch Justin Timberlake's Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 18, 2015|access-date=2016-10-18}}
- The Cutting Room and MetroTech Commons as part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Rhythm and Blues Festival Series (2016){{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/arts/music/william-bell-stax-records-where-i-live.html|title=William Bell, a Stax Records Team Player, Upholds and Extends|first=Alan|last=Light|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 1, 2016}}
- Royal Albert Hall in London (2017)
- "Born Under a Bad Sign" with guitarist Gary Clark Jr. at the Grammy Awards (2017)
- Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2018)
- Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, Minnesota (2018)
- Mempho Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee (2018){{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180615005190/en/Mempho-Music-Festival-Announces-Daily-Lineup|title=Mempho Music Festival Announces Daily Lineup|work=Business Wire|date=June 15, 2018|access-date=July 22, 2019|location=Memphis, Tenn.}}
- Blues Music Awards (2019)
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Label |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| US ! width="35"| US R&B |
| 1967
| style="text-align:left;"| The Soul of a Bell | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax 719 |
| 1969
| style="text-align:left;"| Bound to Happen | align=center| — | align=center| 49 | Stax 2014 |
| 1971
| style="text-align:left;"| Wow ...William Bell | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax 2037 |
| 1972
| style="text-align:left;"| Phases of Reality | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax 3005 |
| 1973
| style="text-align:left;"| Waiting for William Bell | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax 3012 |
| 1974
| style="text-align:left;"| Relating | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax 5502 |
| rowspan="2"|1977
| style="text-align:left;"| Coming Back for More | align=center| 63 | align=center| 15 | rowspan="2"| Mercury |
| style="text-align:left;"| It's Time You Took Another Listen
| align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1983
| style="text-align:left;"| Survivor | align=center| — | align=center| — | Kat Family |
| 1985
| style="text-align:left;"| Passion | align=center| — | align=center| 39 | rowspan="5"| Wilbe |
| 1989
| style="text-align:left;"| On a Roll | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1992
| style="text-align:left;"| Bedtime Stories | align=center| — | align=center| 96 |
| 1999
| style="text-align:left;"| A Portrait Is Forever | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 2006
| style="text-align:left;"| New Lease on Life | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 2016
| style="text-align:left;"| This Is Where I Live | align=center| — | align=center| — | Stax |
| 2023
| style="text-align:left;"| One Day Closer to Home | align=center| — | align=center| — | Wilbe Records |
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Compilation albums=
- The Best of William Bell (1988)
- The Very Best of William Bell (2007)
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="width:30px;" rowspan="2"| Year
! style="width:110px;" rowspan="2"| Label & Cat No ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="width:35px;"| US Hot 100 {{cite web|title=William Bell – Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/william-bell-mn0000578744/awards|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307084641/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/william-bell-mn0000578744/awards|archive-date=March 7, 2013}} ! style="width:35px;"| US R&B ! style="width:35px;"| UK |
| 1961
|Stax 116 |"You Don't Miss Your Water" | align=center| 95 | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1962
|Stax 128 |"Any Other Way" | align=center| 131 | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="4"|1963
|Stax 132 |"I Told You So" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 135
|"Just as I Thought" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 138
|"Somebody Mentioned Your Name" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 141
|"I'll Show You"{{cite book|author=Ahmet Ertegun |author2=Greil Marcus |author3=Perry Richardson |title="What'd I say?": the Atlantic story: 50 years of music|year=2001|page=533|quote=William Bell releases his compositions, 'I Told You So', 'Just As I Thought' (Steve Cropper and Deanie Parker), 'Somebody Mentioned Your Name' (William Bell and Booker T. Jones) and 'I'll Show You'}} | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1964
|Stax 146 |"Who Will It Be Tomorrow" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1965
|Stax 174 |"Crying All by Myself" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1966
|Stax 191 |"Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)" | align=center| — | align=center| 27 | align=center| — |
| Stax 199
|"Never Like This Before" | align=center| — | align=center| 29 | align=center| — |
| rowspan="3"|1967
|Stax 212 |"Everybody Loves a Winner" | align=center| 95 | align=center| 18 | align=center| — |
| Stax 227
|"Eloise (Hang on in There)" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 237
|"Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday" | align=center| — | align=center| 33 | align=center| — |
| rowspan="5"|1968
|Stax 248 |"Every Man Ought to Have a Woman" (A-Side) | align=center| 115 | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 248
|"A Tribute to a King" (B-Side) | align=center| 86 | align=center| 16 | align=center| 31 |
| Stax 0005
|"Private Number" (with Judy Clay) | align=center| 75 | align=center| 17 | align=center| 8 |
| Stax 0015
|"I Forgot to Be Your Lover" | align=center| 45 | align=center| 10 | align=center| — |
| Stax 0017
|"My Baby Specializes" (with Judy Clay) | align=center| 104 | align=center| 45 | align=center|— |
| rowspan="6"|1969
|Stax 0032 |"My Whole World Is Falling Down" | align=center| — | align=center| 39 | align=center| — |
| Stax 0038
|"Happy" | align=center| 129 | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0040
|"Soul-A-Lujah" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0043
|"Love's Sweet Sensation" (with Mavis Staples) | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0044
|"I Can't Stop" (with Carla Thomas) | align=center| 106 | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0054
|"Born Under a Bad Sign" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1970
|Stax 0067 |"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (with Carla Thomas) | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0070
|"Lonely Soldier" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1971
|Stax 0092 |"A Penny for Your Thoughts" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| Stax 0106
|"All for the Love of a Woman" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1972
|Stax 0128 |"Save Us" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1973
|Stax 0157 |"Lovin' on Borrowed Time" | align=center| 101 | align=center| 22 | align=center| — |
| Stax 0175
|"I've Got to Go on Without You" | align=center| — | align=center| 54 | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1974
|Stax 0198 |"Gettin' What You Want (Losin' What You Got)" | align=center| — | align=center| 39 | align=center| — |
| Stax 0221
|"Get It While It's Hot" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1976
|Mercury 73829 |"Tryin' to Love Two" | align=center| 10 | align=center| 1 | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1977
|Mercury 73922 |"Coming Back for More" | align=center| — | align=center| 66 | align=center| — |
| Mercury 73961
|"Easy Comin' Out (Hard Goin' In)" | align=center| — | align=center| 30 | align=center| — |
| rowspan="2"|1983
|Kat Family 03502 |"Bad Time to Break Up" | align=center| — | align=center| 65 | align=center| — |
| Kat Family 03995
|"Playing Hard to Get" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1985
|Wilbe 201 |"Lovin' on Borrowed Time" (new version) | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| rowspan="4"|1986
|Wilbe 202 |"I Don't Want to Wake Up (Feelin' Guilty)" (with Janice Bulluck) | align=center| — | align=center| 59 | align=center| — |
| Wilbe 204
|"Headline News" | align=center| — | align=center| 65 | align=center| 70 |
| |"Passion"
| align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| 96 |
| Wilbe 205
|"Please Come Home for Christmas" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1989
|Wilbe 508 |"Getting Out of Your Bed" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1990
|Wilbe 515 | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1992
|Wilbe 619 |"Bedtime Story" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| 1995
|Wilbe 624 |"Shake Hands (Come Out Lovin')" | align=center| — | align=center| — | align=center| — |
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.williambell.com William Bell official website]
- [http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/William%20Bell.html Soulwalking website discography]
- [http://www.soulexpress.net/williambell.htm William Bell story and interview, part 1 (1956–69), at Soul Express]
- [http://www.soulexpress.net/williambell_part2.htm William Bell feature, part 2 (1970–2008), with a complete discography at Soul Express]
- [http://www.amny.com/entertainment/william-bell-modernizing-the-classic-stax-records-soul-sound-1.12119749 Amny.com]
- [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/arts/music/william-bell-stax-records-where-i-live.html?_r=0 William Bell feature on NYTimes.com]
- [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/william-bell-0 William Bell Interview – NAMM Oral History Library (2016)]
- [http://www.soulexpress.net/deep5_2017.htm#williambell An interview with Soul Express in August 2017]
- [https://www.soulexpress.net/williambell_2023.htm William Bell talks about his album "One Day Closer To Home" in Soul Express]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, William}}
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
Category:American soul singers
Category:Singers from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee
Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners
Category:21st-century African-American male singers
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:20th-century African-American male singers