MICHAEL M. BELL is an American R&B singer/ song writer, producer and rapper. His original compositions and performing persona form the basis of his “grown man” style of music that echoes the masters such as Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, etc. His fresh interpretation of hip hop soul is a welcomed sound that touches both young and older audiences.
It was at the age of 7 when Michael Bell first began singing in local talent shows at schools and for his church. In 1994 Bell was selected to join the New York Boys Choir. After only a year of singing and performing with the NYBC, Bell went from just being another member of the Choir to one of their lead soloists. In 1995, NYBC, Choir Director Gregory McCants received a call from Tommy Boy Records asking him to pick a select few to perform with Coolio at a few talk shows to help promote his new hit single Gangster’s Paradise. Mike was one of those selected, performing on talk shows such as Rosie O’Donnell; The Late Show with David Letterman; Late Night with Conan O’Brien and the Apollo 100th Anniversary.
The successful stints with Coolio opened the opportunity to perform at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards, opening the show with Al Green (performing Take Me to The River) and Hootie & the Blowfish (performing Hold my Hand). There he also performed with Coolio, and the legendary Stevie Wonder (performing Gangster’s Paradise). In 1996 Bell was one of the NYBC members chosen to help record “Without Wings” (a single used to help the families of TWA Flight 800). In 1997, Bell traveled with the Choir to Nagano, Japan to represent the United States by performing at the Winter Olympics.
These early experiences helped shape and mold Bell’s perspective on the world and gave him a vision of how far music can take you. Since his performing days with NYBC, Bell has honed his writing skills, artfully blended rap with his music, developed his musicianship on keyboards and matured into his current style. If you have heard his music, you already know.
