LeRoy Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LeRoy Bell
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | LeRoy Martez Bell III |
| Born | August 8, 1951 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, pop, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Associated acts | Thom Bell, Bell and James, Elton John, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Lopez, LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, G.E. Smith |
| Members | Terry Morgan, Jason Cameron, Ben Smith |
| Past members | Davis Martin, Rick Novito, Daniel Walker, Murl Sanders |
LeRoy Bell is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was born on August 8, 1951. LeRoy is known for being part of the duo Bell and James and for writing hit songs for famous artists like Elton John. He also formed his own band, LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends. In 2011, LeRoy became well-known to a wider audience when he appeared on the TV show The X Factor. He made it to the live shows and was mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.
About LeRoy Bell
LeRoy Martez Bell was born in Florida. His father is the half-brother of a famous music producer named Thom Bell. Because his family was in the military, they moved around a lot. They finally settled down in Tacoma, Washington, in 1965.
Bell and James
LeRoy Bell and his friend Casey James formed a soul music duo called Bell and James. LeRoy played drums and guitar, while Casey played guitar, bass, and keyboards. Before forming their duo, they both played in a band called Special Blend.
Bell and James released three albums: Bell and James (1978), Only Make Believe (1979), and In Black and White (1980). Their most successful song was "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)". This song became a hit, reaching number 15 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart.
LeRoy also released his own short album, called an EP, titled "Spending Time." He released it on his own music label, Martez Music Group.
Writing Songs for Others
LeRoy Bell also wrote many songs for other artists with Casey James. LeRoy's uncle, Thom Bell, encouraged them. Thom Bell owned a music company called Mighty Three Music.
LeRoy and Casey's songs were recorded by many popular groups. Some of these groups include The Spinners, The O'Jays, The Temptations, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Songs with Elton John
Two of LeRoy Bell's songs became very famous when Elton John recorded them. These songs were "Mama Can't Buy You Love" and "Are You Ready for Love". LeRoy Bell and Casey James wrote both songs together.
Elton John's version of "Mama Can't Buy You Love" became a Top 10 hit in 1979. It even reached number one on the Adult/Contemporary chart. This song also earned Elton John a Grammy Nomination.
Songs with Teddy Pendergrass
LeRoy Bell worked with Teddy Pendergrass for a long time. He wrote five songs for Teddy Pendergrass that appeared on three different albums. Some of these songs include "I'll Never See Heaven Again" and "Set Me Free."
Other Artists
LeRoy Bell also wrote songs for many other artists. He wrote for Lou Rawls, Jennifer Lopez, and Phyllis Hyman. For Jennifer Lopez, he co-wrote the song "Still" for her album This Is Me... Then in 2002.
Solo Music Career
In the 2000s, LeRoy Bell started working on his own music. He traveled and performed a lot. He released several solo albums during this time. These include Spending Time (2004), Two Sides to Every Story (2006), A Change Is Coming (2008), and Traces (2010).
In 2011, LeRoy was part of a special music project called United in Song. This project worked with USA For Africa to celebrate peace and unity through world music. Many different artists contributed songs to this project.
LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends
LeRoy Bell also started his own band called LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends. The band includes Terry Morgan on bass and Davis Martin on drums. Both Terry and Davis are experienced musicians. Terry Morgan has played with many artists, and Davis Martin was a member of the band Maktub.
The X Factor Journey
In 2011, LeRoy Bell tried out for the American TV show The X Factor. He sang the song "Lean on Me" for his audition. He made it to the Top 32 contestants.
Later, at the Judges' Houses stage, he sang Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love". He performed for Enrique Iglesias and his mentor, Nicole Scherzinger. LeRoy was chosen as one of the Top 16 contestants, which meant he qualified for the live shows. He was in the "over 30s" category, mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.
Performances and Results
| Episode | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order | Result |
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| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | "Lean on Me" | Bill Withers | N/A | Through to Bootcamp |
| Bootcamp | Group Performance | "Desperado" with Dani Knights, Skyelor Anderson, Chelsea Musick, Ben Rue, Paige Ogle and Cari Fletcher |
Eagles | Advanced | |
| Judges' Houses | Solo | "Make You Feel My Love" | Bob Dylan | Through to Live Shows | |
| Live Show 1 | N/A | "Nobody Knows" | Pink | 10 | Saved by Nicole Scherzinger |
| Live Show 2 | "I'm Already There" | Lonestar | 3 | Safe (8th) | |
| Live Show 3 | Songs from Movies | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" | U2 | 4 | Safe (5th) |
| Live Show 4 | Rock songs | "We've Got Tonight" | Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band | 1 | Safe (6th) |
| Live Show 5 | Giving Thanks | "Angel" | Sarah McLachlan | 6 | Bottom Three |
| Final Showdown (Week 5) | Free Choice | "Don't Let Me Down" | The Beatles | 2 | Eliminated via Deadlock (8th) |
On November 22, 2011, LeRoy was in the bottom three after the public vote. This meant he had to sing again to stay in the competition against Marcus Canty. He chose to sing The Beatles song "Don't Let Me Down". The judges' votes were tied, so the decision went back to the public vote. LeRoy Bell had received fewer votes and was eliminated. He finished in 8th place overall in the competition.
Music Albums
As part of Bell and James
- 1978: Bell and James
- 1979: Only Make Believe
- 1980: In Black and White
With others
- 2020: Stony Hill with G.E. Smith
Solo Albums
- 2004: Spending Time (EP)
- 2006: Two Sides to Every Story
- 2008: A Change Is Coming
- 2010: Traces
As LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends
- 2007: Live in 3D
- 2013: Rock 'N Soul
Singles
As part of Bell and James
- 1979: Livin' It Up (Friday Night)
- 1979: Shakedown
- 1979: You Never Know What You've Got
- 1980: Only Make Believe
Solo Singles
- Two Sides to Every Story
Featured On
- 2013: Miss Me with Paolo Noise
