Performance · Production
William Bell
real name William Yarborough
United States · b. 1939-07-16
William Bell is credited on 2,538 releases across 663 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1954–2026 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.
2,538
Credits
663
Albums
8
Decades active
911
In collections
Biography
Showing the Discogs bio
Singer - Songwriter - Producer
Born on 16.07.1939 in Memphis, Tennessee.
He began performing in bands as a teenager, releasing his first record with the The Del-Rios on the local Meteor label in 1957.
He developed his songwriting career at the legendary label, and would be a guiding force in the evolution of the Stax sound.
In 1961 had released his first solo effort, "You Don't Miss Your Water (Til the Well Runs Dry)", which would be one of the early hits for the label.
He was drafted in 1963 and spent two years in the Army.
In 1967 he released his first solo album at where he released four more albums.
In 1969 Bell moved to Atlanta and started his own label,.
Mid 70's he left for Mercury where he released two albums.
In 1977 he enjoyed the biggest hit of his career with "Trying To Love Two", which sold over two million copies and stayed on the R&B charts for over six months.
After one album at in 1983 he founded his own record company where he released albums up to 00's.
Throughout his career he has recorded successful duets with Judy Clay, Carla Thomas, Mavis Staples and Janice Bullock.
In 1997, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
The same year he was awarded with the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's R&B Pioneer Award.
In 2004, Bell was inducted into Carolina Beach Music Hall Of Fame.
Bio from Discogs
Credited work
2,538 releases · 663 albums · active 1954–2026
- Performance · 3,185
- Production · 194
- Other credits · 44
- Engineering · 36
Studios: Fillmore Auditorium · Wally Heider Recording Studio, Los Angeles · Stax Recording Studios · Quinvy Recording Studio
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Disraeli Gears
1967

Achtung Baby
1991

Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul
1965

Wheels Of Fire
1968

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
1968

Ohio Players
2024

Best Of Cream
1969

Blues
1994

Vital Idol
1985

Word Of Mouf
2001

Born Under A Bad Sign
1967

Special
2022

Whiplash Smile
1986

Hold On, I'm Comin'
1966

On Tour
1970

The Best Of Otis Redding
1972

Expansion Team
2001

Soul Limbo
1968

Idol Songs - 11 Of The Best
1988

Strange Brew - The Very Best Of Cream
1983

The Natch'l Blues
1968

The Simpsons Sing The Blues
1990

Wrong Way Up
1990

Heavy Cream
1972
Frequent collaborators
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