Two of soul music's biggest record labels opened their doors for business the same year, in 1959. In the north, it was Motown Records in Detroit. Down south in Memphis, Tennessee, it was Stax. The first male artist signed to the new Stax record company was William Bell. William stayed with Stax throughout the 1960s, scoring a number of hits as a singer, songwriter, and producer.
One of his best-known songs is “Born Under a Bad Sign," recorded by Cream and Albert King. As a singer, William Bell's biggest hits were “I Forgot to Be Your Lover,” “Everybody Loves a Winner,” and “Private Number,” a duet with Judy Clay. His biggest hit in the U. S. was “Trying to Love Two” in 1977.
William Bell was born July 16, 1939. He was part of the lineup at one of Rhythm Revue's first live concerts at the Village Gate in the early 1990s on a bill that included Carla Thomas, Ruth Brown, and The Persuasions. Bell considers Sam Cooke to be his strongest influence. His warm, soulful voice can be heard on dozens of classic Stax recordings, although very few of them became hits in the U.S. William Bell's most recent recording is One Day Closer to Home, available online.
A happy birthday to William Bell.
Listen above.
Recommended Listening
On Stax:
“You Don't Miss Your Water”
“Everybody Loves a Winner”
“I Forgot to Be Your Lover”
“Private Number” (with Judy Clay)
Post-Stax:
“Trying to Love Two”
Deep Cuts
“Crying All by Myself”
Cool Covers
“Any Other Way” by Jackie Shane
“Born Under a Bad Sign” by Cream
“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” by the Revelations with Tre Williams
