Career
He also is related to the record producer, Thom Bell. Bell was singing in Houston night clubs at age ten, and credits seeing the performances of Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke as influencing him to become a singer. He formed the Drells in 1966 while in high school.
He became known around the world for the hit that he had with the Drells, "Tighten Up".
Since the breakup of the Drells in 1980, Archie Bell has pursued a solo career. Bell later released one solo album (I Never Had lieutenant So Good – 1981) on Beckett Records and continued to perform with The Drells off and on for the next twenty years.
During the 1990s the lineup also included Steve "Stevie G." Guettler (guitar, vocals), Jeff "JT" Strickler (bass guitar, vocals), Steve Farrell (guitar, vocals), Mike Wilson (keyboards, vocals) and Wes Armstrong (drums, vocals) of the Atlanta-based group The Rockerz. In more recent times, Bell has been diversifying his repertoire to include blues, and has recorded a blues album.
He also has recorded some country music, having professed a love for that genre.