Al Bell

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Al Bell (born Alvertis Isbell, March 15, 1940, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States) is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. Bell is best known as one of the key figures behind and a co-owner of Stax Records during the latter half of the label's nineteen-year existence. A former disc jockey in his hometown of Little Rock,^[1] Bell was vital to the careers of Stax's soul stars such as The Staples Singers and Isaac Hayes, both of whom he produced records for. Other Stax stars introduced under Bell's leadership included The Emotions, The Dramatics, and Mel and Tim.

Biography

Early career at Stax

Bell first joined Stax in 1965 as director of promotions, and was essential in aiding the growth of the company's revenue.^[1] Over the next three years, Bell rose through the ranks of the company, eventually becoming executive vice president of Stax, and the most influential figure in the company after co-founder Jim Stewart. In addition to his administrative and promotional work, Bell was often directly involved in the production of the label's music, working as a songwriter and a producer for several acts on the label.^[1]

In 1968, following the plane crash death of Stax's biggest star, Otis Redding, Stax severed its distribution deal with Atlantic Records, who retained the label's back catalog to that point. Bell started an initiative to put out enough albums and singles to help rebuild a catalog for Stax. New signees included gospel stars The Staples Singers, as well as newcomers The Emotions and The Soul Children. Bell notably scheduling twenty-seven albums for release in mid-1969, producing much of the material himself.^[1] One of those albums, Hot Buttered Soul by Stax songwriter/producer Isaac Hayes, was a significant success, and established Hayes as a recording artist in his own right. Bell was most directly involved in shaping the careers of the Staples Singers, creating for them a new sound which resulted in hits such as "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There"

Stax in the 1970s

Bell became co-owner of Stax in 1969 when co-founder Estelle Axton, unhappy with Bell's visions for the company, sold her shares and departed from the label. Bell therefore became the first African-American to have equity in the label; although Stax specialized in African-American music, both of its founders, Stewart and Axton, were white.

Stewart began turning over more and more of Stax's daily operations to Bell, who began ambitious plans to expand the company's operations, similar to what Berry Gordy, Jr. had been doing at Motown Records. Stax began distributing music from several smaller Memphis labels and produced and released the soundtracks for feature films such as Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Shaft (both 1971). In 1972, Al Bell supervised the Wattstax festival, a day-long concert featuring Stax artists which was held in Los Angeles in response to the Watts riots. A 1973 Wattstax documentary film was the production by the label's new film division.^[1]

After four years of the label distributing its own records, Bell signed a new distribution deal with CBS Records in 1972. Stax's relationship with CBS was tumultuous at best; with Bell and the Stax staff borrowing heavily from Memphis' Union Planters Bank but CBS withholding records from stores and profits from Stax, the label's fortunes sharply declined until it slid into bankruptcy and closed by court order in late 1975.^[1] Al Bell was indicted for, and later acquitted of, bank fraud during the Stax bankruptcy proceedings.^[1]

Later career

After Stax folded, Bell returned to Little Rock. He voluntarily stayed away from the music industry for a decade, save for periodic participation in local recordings. In the 1980s, he became head of the Motown Records Group and worked with Berry Gordy, Jr. in the sale of Motown to the MCA/Boston Ventures Group. After Motown, he discovered the music group Tag Team and through his Bellmark Records label released their hit single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993), which became one of the fastest selling singles in the music industry history. Bell also released Prince's hit single "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", after Prince's label Warner Bros. Records turned him down.

After Bellmark Records, Bell returned to Little Rock to begin work on a new music industry paradigm and build a bridge to ease the pain associated with the music industries transition to internet. To launch this new brand he chose the name, Al Bell Presents^[2] and built an online radio program, 'Al Bell Presents: American Soul.'

Awards

Bell has received numerous awards, including:

• Memphis’ Legendary Record Producers Award, 2005
• W. C Handy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002
• Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, 2002
• Record Executive of the Year, Impact Magazine, 1994
• Record Executive of the Year, BRE, 1994
• Chairman’s Award, Southeast Music, 1994
• NARM Indie Best Seller Award (“Whoomp! There It Is” – Tag Team), 1994
• Independent Label of the Year Award, The Urban Network, 1994
• The Spirit of Freedom Award, Freedom Magazine, 1994
• Russell Simmons Award for Executive Excellence, Young Black Programmers’ Coalition, 1993
• Black Music Chief Executive of the Year, Impact, 1993
• Living Legend Award, Warner Bros., Reprise Records & Urban Network, 1972 Heroes and Legends Leadership Award, 1991
• Voted Number Five in the 30 All-Time Greatest Executives in Black Music, Impact Magazine Poll, 1985
• Inductee, America’s Music and Entertainment of Fame, 1980
• 1000 Most Successful Blacks, Ebony Magazine, 1973
• 100 Most Influential Black Men, Ebony Magazine, 1972
• Best Documentary (Wattstax), nomination Golden Globe (1973)
• Executive of the Year, Bill Gavin Radio Program Conference, 1971

References