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'''Adolphus Bell''' (born [[June 5]], [[1944]] in [[Birmingham]]) is a blues musician, best known as a "one man band".
[[Image:Adolphus Bell.jpg|right|thumb|Adolphus Bell]]
'''Adolphus Bell''' (born [[June 5]], [[1944]] in [[Birmingham]], died [[October 28]], [[2013]] in Birmingham) was a blues musician, best known as a "one man band".


Bell was the son of a miner who died two months before Adolphus was born. He grew up in Luverne, Crenshaw County and moved with his mother to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in [[1962]]. He learned guitar from neighbor George Benson. During the 1960s he played around the city with a quintet called Adolphus Bell and the Upstarts. He dubbed his 1960 Gibson guitar "Pawnshop" because every time he bought it back out of hock it had a bluesier sound.
Bell was the son of a miner who died two months before Adolphus was born. He grew up in Luverne, Crenshaw County, working on farms. He moved with his mother to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in [[1962]] and learned guitar from neighbor George Benson, eventually joining his "All Stars" band as a bassist. During the 1960s he played around the city with his own quintet called Adolphus Bell and the Upstarts. He dubbed his 1960 Gibson guitar "Pawnshop" because every time he bought it back out of hock it had a more bluesy sound.


Discouraged with the unreliability of his bandmates, he experimented with singing while playing guitar, bass drum and high-hat himself. He played Pittsburgh, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia in a station wagon he bought with lottery winnings. He painted "One Man Band" on both sides to advertise his music. During the [[Civil Rights Movement]] he acted as a sort of "Pied Piper", playing music and leading impromptu demonstrations through the streets of Atlanta. He was arrested for playing without a permit, but public pressure on the Mayor and municipal court led to an order that police leave him alone.
Discouraged with the unreliability of his bandmates, he experimented with singing while playing guitar, bass drum and high-hat himself. He played Pittsburgh, then began touring the country in a station wagon he bought with lottery winnings. He painted "One Man Band" on both sides to advertise his music.  


Bell moved to Flint, Michigan, back to [[Birmingham]], then to [[Gadsden]] in [[1980]] while working in a chicken plant. He later came back to Birmingham. Everywhere he has lived he has played free concerts for anyone who would listen on the streets, at parks, senior centers, and even jailhouses. In the 2000s, he was contacted by the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which organized international tours and produced an album. He now drives a brown van with his "One Man Band Show" advertised on the side panels.
Bell moved to Flint, Michigan with his sisters around [[1970]] and continued playing, supplementing club gigs with street performances and bookings at senior centers and jailhouses. He also spent a lot of time on the road. During an extended visit to Atlanta, Georgia in the mid-1970s, Bell was arrested for playing without a permit, but public pressure on Mayor Jackson led to an eventual order that police leave him alone.
 
In the late 1970s, Bell headed west to try his luck in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He worked as a regular casino employee and put his music on a back burner. The highlight of his sabbatical was a $200 tip from Telly Savalas. He eventually packed up his station wagon and wound his way back through the South until he found himself back in [[Alabama]]. After a brief stay in Birmingham he settled in [[Gadsden]] in [[1980]] and took a day job at a chicken plant while he pursued blues gigs at night. He returned to Atlanta in the late 1980s and landed a regular booking as a "street busker" at Underground Atlanta. After the [[1996 Olympics Games]] he returned to Birmingham.
 
In [[2004]], Bell was contacted by the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which organized international tours and produced an album. He drove a brown van with his "One Man Band Show" advertised on the side panels until lung cancer forced him to stay at home. The foundation continued to help Bell with expenses and encouragement. He died in October [[2013]] and was buried at [[Oakland Cemetery]].


==Recordings==
==Recordings==
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==References==
==References==
* Bolton, Mark (June 17, 1983) "Adolphus Bell". ''Gadsden Times''
* Bolton, Mark (June 17, 1983) "Adolphus Bell". ''Gadsden Times''
* Benicewicz, Larry (January/April 2009) "[http://www.bluesart.at/NeueSeiten/2009,+Aldophus+Bell.html Adolphus Bell: A Breed Apart]". Blues Art Journal
* Duffy, Tim (October 28, 2013) "[http://www.musicmaker.org/2013/10/adolphus-bell-passes-away/ Adolphus Bell Passes Away]" Music Maker Relief Foundation - accessed June 1, 2014
* "Adolphus Bell" obituary (October 31, 2013) {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists]]
[[Category:Harmonica players]]
[[Category:Harmonica players]]
[[Category:Blues musicians]]
[[Category:Blues musicians]]
[[Category:Cancer deaths]]
[[Category:Oakland burials]]

Latest revision as of 10:57, 1 June 2014

Adolphus Bell

Adolphus Bell (born June 5, 1944 in Birmingham, died October 28, 2013 in Birmingham) was a blues musician, best known as a "one man band".

Bell was the son of a miner who died two months before Adolphus was born. He grew up in Luverne, Crenshaw County, working on farms. He moved with his mother to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1962 and learned guitar from neighbor George Benson, eventually joining his "All Stars" band as a bassist. During the 1960s he played around the city with his own quintet called Adolphus Bell and the Upstarts. He dubbed his 1960 Gibson guitar "Pawnshop" because every time he bought it back out of hock it had a more bluesy sound.

Discouraged with the unreliability of his bandmates, he experimented with singing while playing guitar, bass drum and high-hat himself. He played Pittsburgh, then began touring the country in a station wagon he bought with lottery winnings. He painted "One Man Band" on both sides to advertise his music.

Bell moved to Flint, Michigan with his sisters around 1970 and continued playing, supplementing club gigs with street performances and bookings at senior centers and jailhouses. He also spent a lot of time on the road. During an extended visit to Atlanta, Georgia in the mid-1970s, Bell was arrested for playing without a permit, but public pressure on Mayor Jackson led to an eventual order that police leave him alone.

In the late 1970s, Bell headed west to try his luck in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He worked as a regular casino employee and put his music on a back burner. The highlight of his sabbatical was a $200 tip from Telly Savalas. He eventually packed up his station wagon and wound his way back through the South until he found himself back in Alabama. After a brief stay in Birmingham he settled in Gadsden in 1980 and took a day job at a chicken plant while he pursued blues gigs at night. He returned to Atlanta in the late 1980s and landed a regular booking as a "street busker" at Underground Atlanta. After the 1996 Olympics Games he returned to Birmingham.

In 2004, Bell was contacted by the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which organized international tours and produced an album. He drove a brown van with his "One Man Band Show" advertised on the side panels until lung cancer forced him to stay at home. The foundation continued to help Bell with expenses and encouragement. He died in October 2013 and was buried at Oakland Cemetery.

Recordings

  • Adolphus Bell (2005) "One Man Band". Pinnacle Productions/Music Maker Recordings

References

External links

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