Among another slew of random birthdays today including David Essex [who is 75!], Daniel Radcliffe, Emperor Haile Selassie, Jo Brand, Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, Gloria DeHaven, Raymond Chandler, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lord Richard Rogers, Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, Woody Harrelson, Michael Foot, Slash from Guns'n'Roses and - erm - Monica Lewinsky, it's the 80th birthday of the magnificent Madeline Bell!
Former singer with Blue Mink, her backing vocals have been in demand for decades by the likes of Dusty Springfield, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Serge Gainsbourg, Joe Cocker and Cerrone, but it has been a constant source of mystery to me why she was never really a household name in her own right - when she could produce stuff like this!
Many happy returns, Madeline Bell (born 23 July 1942)!
What a great photo of her! I bought this book, a collection of rock n' roll photos, and she was in it. Since that day, I have always made note when her name would appear in the the credits on a given cut or album. She is loved by the industry. Thanks for honoring her.
ReplyDeleteIf ever there is an underrated performer it's her!
DeleteWe were thrilled - nay, honoured - to see her on stage at Proms in the Park in 2012. She was sublime. Jx
Wow. I had never heard of her, but what a set of pipes.
ReplyDeleteMiss Bell came to the UK in the 196os, found her audience, and never really went back the USA (and certainly never achieved success there). Which is a shame for the Yanks, really. I'm not sure is she's still performing today (although she was always a regular at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho), but she did some really great stuff over the years! Jx
DeleteI Adore her and her Voice. So Cool she's Hot
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! There are fewer and fewer vocalists around that can do what she does. Jx
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