Concord Music Publishing signs legendary soul singer and songwriter William Bell

26 March 2024 - Press release

 

Today, Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of iconic soul singer-songwriter, legend of Stax Records and Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee William Bell. The administration deal, effective immediately, includes a selection of Bell’s catalog and all future works.

William Bell states: "I am very happy to once again be part of the Concord Publishing and Stax Music family and all of their amazing staff!"

William Bell is one of the original soul singers, whose quintessential voice and evocative performances have wowed audiences all over the world for decades. Born in Memphis but based in Atlanta since 1970, Bell first began his career by winning second prize at the annual Mid-South Talent Contest of Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 14, which came with a recording contract with Stax Records (then known as Satellite Records, now Concord-owned). Bell’s debut single “You Don’t Miss Your Water (Until Your Well Runs Dry),” which was just inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, became a smash hit and remains his signature song and best-known recording to this day.

Bell’s first full-length album, The Soul of a Bell, was released in 1967 and included the Top 20 hit single, “Everybody Loves a Winner.” That same year, the original version of “Born Under a Bad Sign,” cowritten by William Bell, hit it big and has since been covered by many cultural icons, from Jimi Hendrix to Homer Simpson. Bell’s other hits include “Any Other Way,” “A Tribute To A King,” “Private Number,” “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday,” “Tryin’ to Love Two” (released on Mercury Records), which became a top ten pop hit and went to #1 on the R&B charts, and perhaps Bell’s best known recording “I Forgot to be Your Lover,” which has almost 40 million streams on Spotify and has been sampled and covered by many artists including Ludacris. 

William Bell is an accomplished songwriter on his own and in collaboration with other composers. Together with Booker T. Jones, Bell wrote such tunes as “I Forgot to Be Your Lover,” “Private Number,” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” the title song of an album by guitarist Albert King which was a major hit for the British recording group Cream.

Tom DeSavia, SVP A&R at Concord Music Publishing states: "We are beyond honored to be working with William Bell - one of the true architects of modern American popular music, as songwriter, recording artist, and entrepreneur. It's incredibly exciting to be entrusted by Mr. Bell to work alongside he and his team on his incredible body of work, both classic and contemporary."

“William Bell is a true visionary who has given so much to soul music and the music community globally. We’re thrilled for Mr. Bell, and honored, as he continues to expand his relationship with the Stax and Concord family,” says Michele Smith, VP, Estate & Legacy Brand Management at Craft Recordings.

Bell’s songs have been recorded by stars including Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart and Etta James, among many others. Additionally, his recordings have been sampled by an impressive list of hip-hop and R&B artists including Kanye West, Ludacris, Jaheim, and more. 

Bell earned his first career GRAMMY in 2017 for Best Americana Album for This Is Where I Live via Stax Records.  He has received the R&B Pioneer Award from Rhythm & Blues Foundation, the W.C. Handy Heritage Award from the Memphis Music Foundation, the BMI Songwriter’s Award, and The Epitome of Soul Award. He is a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and is featured prominently in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

In 2020 The National Endowment for the Arts named Bell one of their fellows, one of the nation's highest honors in the folk and traditional arts. These lifetime awards are given in recognition of both artistic excellence and efforts to sustain cultural traditions for future generations.

William Bell continues to be a major force in the music industry, releasing his latest album One Day Closer To Home with 12 new songs in April 2023.