Adolphus Bell

Adolphus Bell was born in the country outside of Birmingham, Alabama. “I grew up on the farm, working in the cotton fields; music was something that was just always around me. When I was a bit older we moved to Pittsburgh. It was there that I began playing guitar in 1963 or 64. I grew up with George Benson he was the one that put the guitar in my hand. I then moved to Flint, MI. From Flint I moved to Gadsden, Al, then back to Birmingham. I have been around. When I was in Atlanta an English man who saw me playing in the Underground took me to England to play a special show for his wife. I only played one night and stayed for about a week and a half. That was my first and only time I have been out of the country. I loved it. I didn't know how much people appreciated my music until I went to England. It was also my first flight. I am about to go to Costa Rica, France and Australia with Music Maker.”

“I promote, my one-man band, blues hits from the 50s and 60s. I had a band. My band stayed with me for 6 years. They wouldn't be in time for gigs or practice; I loaned them money, they still didn't show up on time. I told my mom, she said, 'Son, don't you put up with this. You keep playing that guitar if you have to play by yourself.' So that is what I did, I began by going in my room. I had rhythm in both my feet and the guitar in my hands. I went to the pawn show, and brought back in the room my drums, and I began to start playing. And you know, it sounded good to me the first time I started playing. I stayed in there about 6 hours, nine months straight. I would play everyday. Finally, I left the room and I went to the club, it was about 1975, and my sidemen said they were tired and wanted a break. They said they didn't want to play the show. I said to them they didn't have to play. I told them I wanted to play by myself. I have been doing this for about 40 years.”

“I found out about Music Maker from Tim Duffy. He tells me he saw me driving my van while he was driving back from Kentucky. Then his friend Mudcat saw me in the Underground in Atlanta. Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and I played together in the Underground. She played right down the way from me. I used to have a security guard to bodyguard me playing at the Underground. People really like my show. Then I left there and they could not find me. Then Mudcat somehow found my telephone number and Tim gave me a call and booked me at the King Biscuit Festival, and I played and started working with Music Maker then. I have been working with them ever since then.”