Saxophonist Teddy Bell was a bandleader throughout the ‘60s-‘90s in Baltimore. He also spent some time touring with Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell. Depending on what period of time you heard his band it was a trio, a quartet.
As the Teddy Bell Revue, he was seen in 1966 performing at the Disco South Lounge on Clement Street. In 1967 the Trio featuring Bell, along with Dottie Tim (organ – Dottie Timberlake ex-Redcaps), and Bill Mojica (drums) appeared at the Golden Horn on Monday through Thursday nights and at Sherry’s on weekends.
They continued performing regularly at clubs such as the Carousel, and as the Quartet (or the Revue) with the addition of vocalist Janice Nixon they were seen at Club Venus, Golden Horn, Briarwood, Land and Sea… The Trio also backed vocalist Marty Thompson regularly at the Golden Horn circa 1969…
Throughout the mid ‘70s Teddy and his Revue / Trio performed at the Carousel, Manny’s, Wishing Well, Green Dolphin, Mimmie’s, Gambrinus, and local Holiday Inns… As Teddy Bell & the Bell System he featured Dottie (keyboards), Deets McCleary (guitar ex-Summer’s Misfits, Fugitives, Raintree, One Another), and Danny Sapanero (drums ex-Originals, Crystals, Professionals).
In 1977 Teddy added the great Baltimore voice of Tommy Vann to the line-up. This lasted for about eight months as they were seen at the Wishing Well, Gambrinus, Mimmie’s.
Tommy tried a brief stint at a re-formation of the Professionals and in June of 1977 he decided to retire to his home in New York to be with his ailing mother. A farewell show was held at Gambrinus on June 12, 1977.
Dottie Tim (Timberlake) and Bill Mojica later became members of Al Rossi’s Joy. McCleary later performed with guitarist Pat O’Brennan.
An early ‘80s line-up featured Teddy (sax), Dave Getz (guitar) – replaced with Bobby Burns (ex-U.S. Male), Benny Cellitto (keyboards ex-U.S. Male, Paco, Pynz) – replaced with Al Ruzicka (ex-Tugboat, Monopoly, Main Event), and Marty Fischer (drums ex-Delmonico’s, Con Chords, Pen Lucy). Guitarist Norm Seifert also performed stints with Bell.
Bell released the album “Unmistakably Teddy Bell” in 1992.
