Spending Time

LeRoy Bell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Martez Music
• ASIN: B00015HV0Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,386 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

After years of writing hit songs for other artists, LeRoy Bell is breaking out as a solo artist with his new CD Spending Time. Labeled "Acoustic Soul" by early listeners, Spending Time is a blend of smoky soulful vocals and acoustic guitar accompanied by cello. It is a very personal statement and quite different from songs Bell has written for other artists.

"After years of being a songwriter for hire, it’s a very freeing experience to write songs strictly for myself," says Bell of his new direction. "It’s much more personal for me. I feel completely uninhibited to say what I want to say and not concern myself with taking another artist’s voice into account. Subsequently, I’ve seemed to reach a new level in my songwriting, as my muse is completely unfettered."

LeRoy Martez Bell started singing and playing the guitar at the age of eight in Darmstadt, Germany. His father, a Sergeant in the United States army, moved the family back and forth from Europe to the U.S. several times before retiring in Tacoma, Washington.

Shortly after, Bell moved to Seattle. Although under age at the time, he began playing the local club circuit at night and honing his song-writing skills during the day under the watchful eyes of his uncle Thom Bell. Thom Bell is known as a celebrated producer-songwriter for The Stylistics ("Betcha By Golly Wow," "You Make Me Feel Brand New,") The Spinners ("I’ll Be Around,") the Delphonics and The O’Jays. He taught nephew Bell, and later Casey James, the do’s and don’ts of song writing. Bell and James went on to write songs for many great artists, such as Elton John, Rita Marley & The I Threes (wife of the late Bob Marley,) Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, The Spinners, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and Lou Rawls, just to name a few.

Bell recently had a number one song in England with "Are You Ready For Love," which he co-wrote with Thom Bell and Casey James for the legendary Elton John. The song, which was performed by Elton John and remixed by Fat Boy Slim, debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Charts for the week of August 31, 2003. John most recently performed the song on the "World Idol" television show, which aired worldwide on January 1, 2004.

Bell & James were signed to A & M records as artists and released two albums, one of which produced the top ten hit "Livin’ It Up Friday Night." The hit was recently sampled by P. Diddy & Co. for the latest Notorious B.I.G. album, Born Again. More of Bell and James’ work was sampled on "Still," the lead track of Jennifer Lopez’s 2002 release This is Me….Then.

"It’s flattering to have your work sampled," says Bell. "It’s interesting to hear their take on a song and what the music brings out in them. Some artists don’t like being sampled, but I enjoy it."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Favorite CD, June 20, 2005

By 

Eric "Eric" (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spending Time (Audio CD)

Saw them in Bellingham on Saturday Night and bought the CD. He is the real thing and we have been playing this CD non-stop for the past two days. You will love how they bring everything together. Can't wait for the next release and to see them live again!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Wonderful!, August 7, 2004

By 

Ms Melodie E Sproul "Jazz Singer" (Tacoma, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spending Time (Audio CD)

LeRoy Martez Bell has a long and varied history when it comes to writing music. To my knowledge, the last solo album he put out before this one was a R&B album. I personally like old-timey folk music better than R&B, and I think the quality of music on this album is wonderful. Mr. Bell truly has a gift for the eclectic. By the way, he's also an all-around a nice guy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, unknown artist, July 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Spending Time (Audio CD)

This is one of the best "new" artists I've heard in years. I put "new" in quotes since Leroy has written songs for so many famous people, its hard to really call him new. That said, like everyone else here I agree the only downside to the album is there are not enough songs. I, for one, really hope he writes and records more of his own stuff in the future. Its first-rate!

If you ever have a chance to hear him live, I'd go in a second. I also heard him at the Third Door in Seattle. It was a fantastic performance!