Blues, funk, hip-hop band. Originally formed by vocalist Kelly Bell and guitarist Automatic Slim as a backing band for a Bo Diddley concert at the Eight by Ten. Bell, attended Blair High School near D.C. and was formerly a member of Fat Tuesday.
An early lineup of the Kelly Bell Band included Bell (vocals), with Jimmi Sexton (guitar), Dave Evans (bass), Kirk Myers (keyboards), and Bob Hill (drums).
Their original music “PHAT blues” described by Bell “combines a real nice pocket groove, funky bass lines, traditional guitar licks, fiery piano parts, and my own soulful scream… It’s Muddy Waters meets Parliament Funkadelic with shades of D.C. go-go.”
The Kelly Bell Band was voted best (blues) band in mid-Atlantic region for 11 years+ in annual Music Monthly Reader’s Polls. Also, a perennial favorite in City Paper polls. Local gigs included Bohager’s, Eight by Ten, Manny’s (Rockville), The Depot (Fredericksburg), Rec Room, The Landing… Opened for Bo Diddley, the Stone Temple Pilots, Foghat, James Cotton, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many others…
The song “Phat Blues Music” was featured on cable series “Homicide.” Their song “Say Hey” was included on the 1996 local music comp “An Udderly Fowl Release“(Fowl 420).
Their 2000 CD release “…ain’t like it used to be!” featured Bell (vocals, percussion), Ira Mayfield, Jr. (guitar), Brett Sharbaugh (bass ex-All Mighty Senators), Kirk Myers (keyboards), and Erik True (drums), with guests Jimi Haha (vocals, guitar –Jimi’s Chicken Shack), H-One (rap), Toni Blackmon (vocals), Mark Wenner (harmonica –Nighthawks), Victor Williams (percussion), Ron Holloway (sax –Root Boy Slim, Capitol Offense), Bobby Parker (guitar), Big Jesse Yawn (vocals), and the All Mighty Senators Horns. The album quickly became the best-selling CD by a local group in Maryland.
A mid-‘00s lineup featured Bell, Mayfield and Myers, with Freddie Louden (bass ex-The Left), and Spencer Brown (drums). By 2011 it was Bell, Louden and Brown, with guitarists Dave Dowling and Ryan Fowler, and saxophonist Russell McCray.
Bell was also a frequent popular guest on the WIYY 98 Rock morning show.
199*(CS) E-Flat “Live” From the Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
1998(CD) Phat Blues Phat Blues Music
2000(CD) Phat Blues …ain’t like it used to be!
2002(CD) Phat Blues Chasing the Sun
2004(CD) Phat Blues Live from The Recher Theater…Finally!
2007(CD) Phat Blues Reincarnated
Thanks Kelly for the photos and information!
