Charles Bell Jr. (born February 11, 1961, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), better known by his stage name Poogie Bell, is an American jazz drummer, composer, band leader and producer. Bell is best known as a drummer, working extensively with bassist Marcus Miller and as a sideman for other artists such as Erykah Badu, Victor Bailey, David Bowie, Alex Bugnon, Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, John Scofield, Stanley Turrentine, Luther Vandross, Vanessa Williams, and Victor Wooten.
Life and career Early life Bell was born in 1961 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Charles Bell, Sr. and Alice Pittrell. His father was a jazz pianist and band leader for the Charles Bell Contemporary Jazz Quartet. As an infant, Bell regularly watched his father's band rehearse. He made his concert debut with his father's band at age two and a half, playing at Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, and in 1966, he performed with Pearl Bailey on the Mike Douglas Show.
Bell moved to New York with his family, where his father took up a music professorship. In New York, Bell continued to be immersed in the world of music. His father regularly rehearsed at home with Ron Carter, Richard Davis, Ornette Coleman, Max Roach, and Mary Lou Williams, and the bassist Paul Chambers was a neighbor. While growing up in New York, Bell was friends with Omar Hakim, Weldon Irvine, Marcus Miller, Lenny White, and Bernard Wright, all of whom went on to professional music careers of their own.
Professional career Bell has an extensive discography as a sideman, producer and arranger. He produced Alex Bugnon, smooth jazz artist Mey, pop and R&B artist Kenji Hino, jazz bassist owner of Yuji Sound Records and promotion company Poogie Bell Presents, LLC.
Grammy Awards Bell performed on Chaka Khan's 1992 album The Woman I Am, which won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and on Marcus Miller's album M2, which won the 2001 Best Contemporary Jazz Album. He also performed on Angélique Kidjo's 2007 release Djin Djin, which won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2008.
Videos Poogie Bell Interview
Discography 2004: Poogie Bell Band – Thinking Outside The Box 2007: Poogie Bell Band – Get on the Kit 2009: Poogie Bell Band – Poogie on Shuffle 2010: Poogie Bell Band – My America 2013: Poogie Bell Band – Suga Top
As a sideman 1979: Weldon Irvine – The Sisters 1980: Weldon Irvine – Weldon & The Kats 1981: Bobby Broom – Clean Sweep 1991: Marcus Miller – Out of the World 1992: Chaka Khan – The Woman I Am 1992: Najee – Just An Illusion 1993: Kirk Whalum – Caché 1993: Marcus Miller – The Sun Don't Lie 1995: Marcus Miller – Tales 1996: Various Artists – World Christmas 1997: Marcus Miller – Live & More 1997: Erykah Badu - "Erykah Badu: Live" 1998: Marcus Miller – The Best of Marcus Miller 1999: Various Artists – An American Love Story 2001: Marcus Miller – M² (2002 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album) 2002: Marcus Miller – The Ozell Tapes – Live 2001 2003: Michael 'Patches' Stewart – Blow 2004: Dean Brown – Groove Warrior 2005: Marcus Miller – Master of All Trades 2005: Marcus Miller – Silver Rain 2007: Angelique Kidgo - Djin Djin (nominated for Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album) 2008: Marcus Miller – Marcus 2008: S.M.V. – Thunder 2010: Marcus Miller – A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009
References
External links
Sofia Echo interview Poogie Bell Trio in Marseille Crush Drum Artist Poogie Bell video interview at Rockyoumentally