Career
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he began singing in local clubs. He first recorded, with backing group The Casanovas, on the single "lieutenant"s Not That Easy", released on the local Murco label in 1967. The recording has subsequently become regarded as a classic of Southern soul and has featured on several compilation albums.
Two later records followed for Murco, "You"re Gonna Mission Maine" with The Beltones, and "Action Speaks Louder Than Words", before Bell moved to the Silver Fox and House of Orange labels where some of his recordings were produced by Wardell Quezergue.
He also wrote songs recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland and others In 1972, he recorded Tarheel Slim"s song, "I Hear You Knocking (lieutenant"s Too Late)", for the DeLuxe label, a subsidiary of King Records.
lieutenant became Bell"s only chart hit, reaching # 38 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart. He continued to record through the 1970s for the Alarm label, and released his only album, Blues Get Office My Shoulder, for the Portuguese City label in 1982.
Bell died in 2004 while living in Shreveport"s Cedar Grove neighborhood.