By dvdmike (12.84.10.62) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 10:02 am:

The genius composer/producer/arranger is 60 today.

By Eli (151.197.37.85) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 10:34 am:

His birthday is tomorrow the 27th. If you look under the thread "January birthdays" I will give you a description of last nights gala event birthday party.

By dvdmike (12.84.10.62) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 11:00 am:

Bobby, has anybody heard from Thom's brother Tony?

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Hi Guy Thom Bell birthday party was out of sight
Im not going to say more, Bobby Eli will tell you all about it,
WELDON

By Caleb (64.157.74.218) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

Bobby,were you able to tell Thom about this website?Also,was his brother there Tony,and if so how was he doing?

By Nancy (66.185.85.72) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 03:51 pm:

Happy birthday Thom I heard you had one heck of a party last night congratulations you deserve it

Nancy (Toronto canada)

By Eli (151.197.40.25) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 09:27 pm:

Hi Guys and gals!!!

Thom's party was THE event to attend thanks to his sister Barbara and his wife Vanessa who devised the whole shebang.It was in the main ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Unfortunately Tony has had some serious mental and alcohol problems for years and no one has heard from him. His lovely ex-wife was there as well as Leroy Bell who is one half of Bell and James. George Merrill the writer of How will I know and I wanna dance with somebody who loves me by Whitney Houston was there.

James Ingram sang I dont have the heart, Just once and later on he did some ad-lib things.
Russell Thompkins jr. did Betcha by golly wow.

Kind words were said by Kenny Gamble, Bob Babbitt,
Phil Hurtt, Vinnie Barrett, Carl Helm, Russell Thompkins jr. and myself.

It would be a pleasure to see Thom back on the charts as everyone concurs.

By the way there is a very good possibility that Kenny Gamble will produce Aretha as requested by her. I will keep you posted.

By Caleb (64.157.66.146) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 11:06 pm:

Any talk about any projects Thom might do?

By John Lester (217.40.235.125) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:36 am:

Gamble and Huff with Aretha..........surely a match made in heaven...Bobby - are you gonna be on it too? Make sure you get some piccies for us here!

Would there be a possibility that Thom might do a track?

By Clay (66.73.217.244) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:48 am:

Happy Birthday Thom,
Come on back and show these PUPS what a real arrangement with great musicians and production working hand in hand are all about. It's time my friend, It's time. You've always been one of the guys
I've looked up too and admired,because no one sounds like you but you. Peace

By skip (12.2.196.17) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:25 am:

Happy Birthday Mr Thom Bell you made my life more enjoyable just hearing your music God bless you Thom Bell.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:33 am:

Thom Bell.. Didn't I blow your mind this time?

Definitely - this time and every time. You betcha (by golly wow!)

Many happy returns :o)

By skip (12.2.196.17) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

MR.Eli any pictures taken if so could you post them. were any of the delfonics at his party thank you.Skip

By Caleb (63.208.119.208) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 08:00 pm:

Bobby,we need more details-pictures,quotes,possible projects spoken of.Is he still in Philly?

By Eli (151.197.5.7) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:39 pm:

Hi all!!!

Thom did not mention any projects per se but did say that there were some that he may consider.

For some reason there were no Delphonics present. They should have been the first to have been there.
Unfortunately Stan Watson of Philly Groove is totally debilated due to a stroke and other related illnesses.
I did take a lot of pictures and I will post some just as soon as I get them back.

As far as KG and Aretha, I was asked to submit songs and more than likely I will play as well if it does transpire.
Thom went back to washington today but we will stay in touch.

By Caleb (64.157.66.167) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 10:14 pm:

No Wil Hart?Did he specifically say that he was going back to Washington cause we've read here he has a home in Hawaii?

By Eli (151.197.5.7) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 10:24 pm:

They sold the home in Hawaii.
They live in Bellingham, Washington.

By Caleb (209.244.237.221) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:13 pm:

To your knowledge,did this just recently happen?

By Eli (151.197.5.212) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 12:52 pm:

No its been quite a while. Several years. They had two places but decided to stay in Washington full time.

By BOBBABBITT (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 12:41 am:

HEY MO-FU'S..........THE "BABBITT" HERE....
WHAT A GREAT NIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!! GOOD FOOD, GOOD BAND, GREAT PEOPLE! THOM WAS SO SURPRISED THAT EVERY TIME HE WAS APROACHED BY HIS FRIENDS HE JUST LET OUT A BIG LAUGH........FOR ME JUST THE FACT THAT I SAW THOM AGAIN TO GIVE HIM A BEAR HUG ALONG WITH A FEW MINUTES OF CONVERSATION MADE IT ALL WORTH WHILE FOR ME!!!!! I WAS WALKING WITH A CANE BECAUSE OF MY KNEE SURGERY AND THOM ASKED WHAT WAS THE MATTER.....WHEN I TOLD HIM HE LIFTED UP HIS PANT LEG AND SHOWED ME IDENTICAL SCARS LIKE MINE..HE HAD THE SAME SURGERY....I SAT AT A TABLE WITH BOBBY ELI, HIS GIRLFRIEND VONNIE, CHARLES COLLINS,(PHIL. INTER. DRUMMER AND LIKE A BROTHER TO ME ) GEORGE MERRILL (SONGWRITER FIRST TWO WHITNEY HOUSTON HITS, AMONGST OTHERS) AND GIRLFRIEND, JOE TARSIA (SIGMA SOUND OWNER) AND HIS WIFE, ALONG WITH SIGMA SOUND ENGINEER JIMMY GALLAHGER.........AT THE TABLE NEXT TO US WAS PRODUCER/SONG WRITER PHIL HURTT (SPINNERS..I'LL BE THERE) ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCERS I HAD WORKED WITH WHEN I STARTED TO RECORD IN PHILADELPHIA...THOM TALKED ABOUT RECORDING AGAIN??? THAT WOULD BE GREAT!!!!!!!

By Heikki (62.71.79.237) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 02:10 am:

Hi!
As far as I know Thom moved to Washington in '76, and that's when Spinners started recording their vocals over there (at Kaye-Smith studios) instead of Sigma Sound.
I'll interview Mr. Bell (for the Spinners story) next Sunday.
I'm glad to hear that the party was a success!
Best regards
Heikki
http://www.soulexpress.net

By Caleb (209.244.238.187) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 08:22 pm:

Bobby,did you get those pictures back yet?If so, please post a few.

By Eli (151.197.5.130) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 12:04 am:

I'll get around to it real soon. I have been very busy in my studio.

By Friday (64.157.76.247) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 08:56 pm:

Bobby,let's see a few shots.

By Son of Thunder (64.157.70.83) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

Yeah Bobby fire up a few.

By David Meikle (80.5.115.23) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 01:33 pm:

Thanks to Weldon for the first pics of the party.

By Caleb (64.157.79.41) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 06:50 pm:

Bobby,who's the man with Thom on the top left-is that his father?Also,who's the lady with him in the center-is that his wife Vanessa?You and Babbitt on the bottom left-Coolness!!

By Scratcher (65.132.76.36) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 09:44 pm:

That looks like Russell Thompson with Thom Bell in that upper left pic. But Bobby can verify this.

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:06 am:

I don't know why you guys are asking Bobby Eli who are the people in the photos,I took time out to put that together, if you would like to know who are the people ask me WELDON A. Mc DOUGAL III
I don't know why I never get credit for what I do,not only this matter, but its a lot of songs on the forum I produced and some of you guys tell me sombody els did it,Give CREDIT WERE CREDIT IS DO,if you don't know, thats why I take time to answer your questions.
WELDON

By Eli (151.197.37.233) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:29 am:

Its Russell allright!!

By Caleb (209.244.235.16) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:29 am:

Fair enough-Weldon,your the man!!Thanks for sharing these pictures.Can you tell us who the people are in these photos.Thank you,Caleb

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 01:16 am:

from top left,Russell Thompson Jr,Kenny Gamble, James Ingram,down one Jerry Blavit (DJ), Jhon Jackson,(he is writing a book on the philly sound) Weldon A. Mc Dougal III, the lady next to Thom is his wife Vanessa,Brenda Lum(she worked with Tommy years ago)then Bob Bobbitt, Bobby Eli,standing in back of Thom is Joe Tersea (the main man at sigma sound),the party was out of sight.
WELDON

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 01:27 am:

John A. Jackson,he is writing a book on the sound of Philadelphia, it will be out next year, he has been writing the book for the last 3 years,the party was just the thing to end the book.
WELDON

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.12) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 06:38 am:

Many thanks Weldon.
YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nancy (24.101.72.243) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 08:19 am:

Love the pictures Weldon, especially how you put them together, thanks for sharing them with us

By Friday (65.192.239.129) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 09:51 am:

Was his parents there?

By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

Did I read that Gamble & Huff is going to produce Aretha or did have a dream from eating good caviar? If it is true, it will be incredible. I am already salivating thinking about that voice over the tremendous music produced by the house that Gamble & Huff built. Some of whom are on this wonderful forum.

Did Aretha move with Clive to J. Records?

Michael

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 05:37 pm:

Michael....apparently Aretha did move to J Records. That's one of the reasons there's been such a long delay for her upcoming release. A Gamble & Huff connection with Sister Ree does sound great (if they can get the proper material)....but she's seems quite enthused over the tracks she's cut with Jam & Lewis and raves over something written by my friend Charles "Chuck" Jackson (Independents & co-writer w/ Marvin Yancey on the Natalie Cole hit parade).

By Caleb (64.157.78.44) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 12:32 am:

Bobby,do you have a few minutes to post some shots?

By Son of Thunder (65.59.101.72) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 08:34 pm:

Eli,how about a few shots of this bash that you might have.How many children does Thom and Vanessa have?