Charles "Poogie" Bell Jr. is a renowned jazz drummer and composer whose vibrant career spans decades, showcasing his dynamic collaborations with legends like Chaka Khan and David Bowie. As a bandleader of the Poogie Bell Band, he continues to push the boundaries of funk and jazz while inspiring the next generation of musicians, including his son, Winston Bell.
Charles "Poogie" Bell Jr., born on February 11, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a celebrated jazz drummer, composer, band leader, and producer. From a tender age, Poogie Bell demonstrated a prodigious musical talent, deeply influenced by his father, Charles Bell Sr., a prominent jazz pianist and band leader of the Charles Bell Contemporary Jazz Quartet.
Poogie's journey began as early as ten months when he observed his father's band rehearsals intently. By the age of 2.5, he made his concert debut alongside his father at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Hall, showcasing his natural musical flair. His first television appearance was on the Mike Douglas Show at the age of five. Growing up in New York City provided him with unique experiences, mingling with jazz legends like Max Roach, Ornette Coleman, and Ron Carter, who were frequent collaborators with his father.
Launching his professional career, Poogie played with notable artists such as Tom Brown, Weldon Irvine, and Hugh Masakela. His versatility as a sideman and session drummer led to collaborations with a diverse range of acclaimed artists.
Throughout his career, Poogie has worked with:- Marcus Miller- Chaka Khan- Erykah Badu- David Bowie- Stanley Clarke- David Sanborn- Luther Vandross- Roberta Flack- Al Jarreau
He co-wrote "Touch and Go" for Force MD's, which won an ASCAP award in 1987, and contributed to Grammy-winning albums including:- Chaka Khan's "The Woman I Am" (1993)- Marcus Miller's "M2" (2001)- Angélique Kidjo's "Djin Djin" (2008)
In the early 2000s, Poogie formed the Poogie Bell Band, releasing several albums as a band leader:- Thinking Outside The Box (2004)- Get on the Kit (2007)- Poogie On Shuffle (2009)- My America (2010)- Suga Top (2013)- Exhibition Continues (2018)
His drumming style, known for its fusion of funk, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, is celebrated for its adaptability and expressive rhythms. Poogie remains active in the music scene, regularly touring, especially across Europe and Asia, and conducting drum clinics and masterclasses in China.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Winston Bell has carved his own niche as a saxophonist and musician. As the son of Poogie Bell, Winston has inherited and expanded upon his family's rich musical heritage.
Winston has performed with the Poogie Bell Band, notably on the album "Exhibition Continues," and was part of the Funky Fly Project. In 2022, the Pittsburgh Foundation's Exposure Artists Program recognized his talent with a $5,000 grant. Winston advocates for making jazz accessible to a broad audience, embracing elements of modernized jazz such as lo-fi hip-hop. Leading the Winston Bell Project, he continues to evolve as a musician and bandleader.
Winston Bell's dedication to jazz ensures the continuation of a musical lineage that began with his grandfather, Charles Bell Sr. This multi-generational legacy highlights not only the continuity of family traditions but also the dynamic evolution of jazz across generations.
