LeRoy Bell
Mississippi Studios
07/30/2016 07:30 PM PDT
$20 ADV / $22.50 DOS
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Supporting Acts: Megan Burtt
LeRoy Bell
Finishing #8 on the debut season of XFactor USA and airing in 120 countries, LeRoy Bell has gained millions of fans all over the world who fell in love with his soulful vocal sounds and timeless style. The public reaction to LeRoy’s XFactor performances resulted in him trending worldwide on Twitter on several occasions. Because of the exposure and promotion gained from this international exposure LeRoy Bell is now one of the most distinguished artists to evolve out of the reality TV music/entertainment world.
The reception to LeRoy's original music has also been spectacular. He and his band have performed with Van Morrison, Fitz and the Tantrums, Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, Etta James, Steve Miller, Beth Hart, Joe Cocker, Al Green, Idina Menzel, Sharon Jones & The Dap King, Paolo Nutini, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, LeAnne Rimes, Joan Osborne, Michael McDonald, Suzanne Vega, Colin Hay, Mavis Staples, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Leon Russell, Sonny Landreth, Charlie Musselwhite, and Los Lobos.
LeRoy was personally invited by B.B. King to open for him at his Oct 15, 2007 historic return to The Filmore Auditorium in San Francisco. He’s also had the pleasure of performing at Chateau Ste Michelle, (Seattle), Humphries (San Diego), Mt. Winery (Saratoga, CA), The Palace Of Fine Arts (S.F, CA), The Paramount and Moore Theatres (Seattle) The Festival at Sandpoint (Sandpoint, ID), B.B. Kings (NYC) House of Blues (Chicago), The San Jose Jazz Festival, Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, The Vancouver Island Music Festival, and other prestige venues across the US and Canada.
Self-producing and releasing 6 CDs over the past 10 years, LeRoy continues as a prolific songwriter gaining a strong following on AAA radio and featured in media across the US. His music has become a favorite for in-store at Starbucks worldwide thanks to great support from PlayNetwork.
The Bell family legacy extended from Philly to Seattle when Thom Bell, (LeRoy's uncle) opened up the west coast offices of Mighty Three Music. As a young staff writer LeRoy teamed with Casey James and wrote songs that would be recorded by The Spinners, The O'Jays, The Temptations, Rita Marley and most notably Elton John.
“Mama Can't Buy Me Love”, from the “Thom Bell Sessions”, went to #9 pop, #36 R&B, and #1 AC in the fall of 1979, earning John a Grammy Nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. That same year Bell and James had their own million-sellerwith "Livin It Up (Friday Night)" on A&M Records.
In 2003 Fat Boy Slim’s re-mix of Elton's "Are You Ready For Love,” reached #1 in England and most of Europe. Released on his own label, Martez Music Group the debut EP “Spending Time,” started the new era. The 2006 release of his first full length CD “Two Sides To Every Story,” received rave reviews. Followed in 2008 with the politically charged “A Change Is Coming,” LeRoy’s most intimate music project yet “Traces,” a solo acoustic project was released in 2010. Followed by Rock ‘N Soul in 2013.
LeRoy comfortably embraces a wide range of genres. He’s a passionate Soul/R&B singer, a powerful blues/rocker and equally at home as an acoustic folk/soul singer, capable of captivating an audience with intimate performances. His studio and live band, LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends with bassist Terry Morgan, drummer Davis Martin and his newest “Only Friend”, keyboardist, Daniel Walker (David Bromberg, John Fullbright, Mama Sweet) lay the powerful musical foundation for the sound.
Zahara, South Africa’s leading young “Afrosoul” singer-songwriter was so moved by LeRoy’s voice and performance, she invited him to join her in South Africa to collaborate on her first Live DVD (‘New Beginnings’ – EMI SA) in the summer of 2013 and shipped double platinum. The DVD was confirmed to be one of the fastest selling releases in South Africa.
One of South Africa’s most influential DJs, DJ Sbu, remixed one of LeRoy’s originals, A Change is Coming, and it reached #2 on the South African music charts. We have included that track on his last CD Rock ‘N Soul.
Zahara, LeRoy Bell & The Soweto Gospel Choir were nominated for a SAMA (South African Grammy in 2013.
These opportunities continue to increase since his international success and television exposure. He recently had the honor of sharing the stage with Carlos Santana at a tribute to the guitar legend at Seattle’s Experience Music Project.
Venue Information
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
http://www.mississippistudios.com/