Where’d You Get Your Funk From? - LeRoy Bell (Bell & James, Composer)

2025-08-07

** PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ** Featured in WYGYFF Episode 25: Singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist and drummer LeRoy Bell. With his famous uncle and Philly Sound hitmaker Thom Bell as a mentor, during the 1970s he wrote or co-wrote songs for Elton John, the Spinners, the O’Jays, the Temptations, Freda Payne, the Three Degrees, Teddy Pendergrass, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis and others. For John, he co-wrote the hit, “Mama Can’t Buy You Love.” He was also one-half of the duo Bell and...

** PLEASE SUBSCRIBE **

Featured in WYGYFF Episode 25: Singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist and drummer LeRoy Bell. With his famous uncle and Philly Sound hitmaker Thom Bell as a mentor, during the 1970s he wrote or co-wrote songs for Elton John, the Spinners, the O’Jays, the Temptations, Freda Payne, the Three Degrees, Teddy Pendergrass, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis and others. For John, he co-wrote the hit, “Mama Can’t Buy You Love.”

He was also one-half of the duo Bell and James, which released three albums and notched the funky dance hit, “Livin’ It Up (Friday Night).” Along the way he shared the stage with superstars like B.B. King and Joe Cocker, released solo albums and led a group called LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, and in 2011 was a standout on TV’s The X Factor talent show.

RECORDED MARCH 2025

Hosted by Scott "DR GX" Goldfine — musicologist, author of “Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk” and creator/host of the popular TRUTH IN RHYTHM podcast — "Where'd You Get Your Funk From?" is the latest interview show brought to you by FUNKNSTUFF.NET. Where’d You Get Your Funk From (WYGYFF) is an open format video and audio podcast focusing on the here and now, with a broad range of creative and artistic guests sharing fascinating stories, experiences, and perspectives.

WYGYFF is a welcoming avenue to newer and independent musical acts as well as established and still active musicians of any genre; authors; filmmakers; actors; artists; collectors and archivists; radio & podcast personalities; journalists; scholars; sound techs; promoters; photographers; and other creative people. A common thread, is the show's standard opening question: Where’d you get your funk from?

This is much deeper than it may seem as the answer need not be strictly about funky music, as not everyone has found the funk. It could hit on whatever type of music touches their soul or pleasure centers. Additionally, the question extends beyond music. Paraphrasing George Clinton, funk is whatever it needs to be to get you over the hump. Thus, guests can explain where they got their grit, perseverance, inspiration, talent, creativity, character or other qualities that shaped them into who they are today. This serves as a springboard into candid, in-depth and engrossing conversations.

LEGAL NOTICE: All video and audio content protected by copyright. Any use of this material is strictly prohibited without expressed consent from original content producer and owner Scott Goldfine, dba FUNKNSTUFF. For inquiries, email info@funknstuff.net.

Get your copy of "Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk" today! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1541256603/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1541256603&linkCode=as2&tag=funknstuff-20&linkId=b6c7558ddc7f8fc9fe440c5d9f3c400

Comments (3)