Adolphus Bell facts for kids

Adolphus Bell (born June 5, 1944 – died October 28, 2013) was an American electric blues musician. He was famous for being a one-man band. This means he played several instruments by himself. He performed music for fifty years. He also released two albums with the Music Maker record label. Adolphus Bell played at many music festivals too.

A music writer named Jim DeKoster said that Adolphus Bell's music was great. He noted that listeners would forget Bell was a one-man band. He had a unique and appealing style.

Biography

Early Life and Music

Adolphus Bell was born in Birmingham, Alabama. His father died before he was born. As a young boy, Adolphus worked on local farms. In 1962, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his mother. There, he learned to play the guitar from their neighbor, George Benson. He even joined Benson's band as a bassist.

During the 1960s, Bell formed his own band called Adolphus Bell and the Upstarts. They played around Pittsburgh. His band even opened a show for the famous singer Bobby Bland. Bell named his 1960 Gibson guitar "Pawnshop." This was because he often had to pawn it for money.

Bell got tired of his bandmates not showing up. So, he started trying to play music all by himself. He would sing while playing the guitar, bass drum, and high-hat drum. This is how he became a one-man band.

Touring and Challenges

After playing in Pittsburgh, Bell began traveling across the country. He bought a station wagon with money he won from the lottery. He painted "One Man Band" on the sides of his car. This helped him advertise his music.

Around 1970, Bell moved to Flint, Michigan, with his sisters. He kept playing music in clubs. He also performed on the streets and at places like senior centers. Bell spent a lot of time traveling on the road. In the mid-1970s, he visited Atlanta, Georgia. There, he faced a problem for playing music without a permit. However, people spoke up for him. The mayor eventually told the police to leave him alone.

In the late 1970s, Bell went west to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He worked at a casino and put his music aside for a while. Later, he returned to Alabama. After a short time in Birmingham, he settled in Gadsden in 1980. He worked at a chicken plant during the day. At night, he played blues music.

Later Career and Recognition

In the late 1980s, Bell moved back to Atlanta. He got a regular job playing music on the street at Underground Atlanta. As years passed, he traded his station wagon for a brown van. He continued to travel and play music in the Southern states. After the 1996 Summer Olympics, he returned to Birmingham.

In 2004, the Music Maker Relief Foundation contacted Bell. This foundation helps blues musicians. They helped him go on international tours. They also produced his first album, Mississippi Rubberleg. This album included his versions of popular songs like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Ain't No Sunshine".

Thanks to the Music Maker Foundation, Bell played at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas. He performed in Argentina, Australia, Europe, and the US. He played at famous places like the Lincoln Center in New York. His second album, One Man Band, came out in 2006.

Bell also appeared in a 2008 documentary called Toot Blues. His music was featured on two compilation albums. These were Music Maker: Slavery, Prison, Women... (2007) and Biscuits for Your Outside Man (2016). Besides playing music, Bell was known for his cool dance moves. These included the Mashed Potato and Mississippi Longleg dances.

Adolphus Bell kept traveling and performing. But a serious illness made him stay in Birmingham. The Music Maker Foundation continued to help him with his costs. He passed away in October 2013 and was buried in Oakland Cemetery.

Discography