If you are reading this thinking, "Yeah, who the hell is he and why do I care?", you seriously need to brush up on Houston's music legends! He is none other than Archie Bell of Archie Bell & the Drells who had a huge hit with "Tighten Up", not to mention all of the other great soul music he has released in his lifetime! Archie was first discovered by Skipper Lee Frazer, of KCOH radio (still on the air, at 1430 am, and definitely worth a listen!), who was also instrumental in producing his first record (on Skipper's own Ovid label). The Tighten Up, originally released in 1968, was a song and dance craze from the late sixties/early seventies (not unlike the Mashed Potato, the Watusi or, the Macarena (yeah - we know - YIKES) - for those not hip to the oldies). Yes, indeed - Houston Texas has it's very own "Godfather of Soul". Born in Henderson, Texas, Archie grew up in the Fifth Ward, one of eight children. Archie achieved musical success, while his brother, Ricky Bell became an All-American football player.
Archie Bell & The Drells were all students at the Leo Smith Junior High School, in Houston, Texas.Archie joined a vocal group called Little Pop & the Fireballs, and formed the Drells in high school with friends James Wise, Huey 'Billy' Butler, and Joe Cross (later replaced by Willie Pernell).
When they cut their first outing for Ovid label in 1967, the group consisted of Bell, Wise, Huey 'Billy' Butler and Joe Cross.
The Drells won several local talent shows, performing a repertoire dominated by Chicago soul, and were discovered by local DJ Skipper Lee Frazier, who became their manager and producer.
The single was released by Atlantic Records.
Although initially a poor seller, their single found real success after the b-side was given airplay, the A Side being a song called 'Dog Eat Dog'.
'Tighten Up' sold in excess of three million copies and reached number 1 in both the U.S. R & B and pop charts.
Prior to that release Archie Bell & the Drells recorded a single for Skipper Frazier's Ovid label, 'She's My Woman,' which became a regional hit in 1966.
Archie learned of the song's success while recovering from wounds suffered in Vietnam, and with Atlantic requesting a full album, he began traveling to and from the States on leave.
Archie Bell lives in Houston and continues to perform, rumor has it with the Allen Oldies Band - Houston's very own "King of the Oldies", on occasion. He has also been performing solo since the Drell's broke up in the early '80's. Houstonist recommends that, given the chance to see Archie perform live, you sharpen your skates and go - we hear he's still got the moves - hell, he has still got it all going on.
Click here for a biography from Soul Tracks, which includes a video performance (oh yeah, baby).
Click here for a great live interview with Archie and his biography.
"Hi Everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the Drell's from Houston, Texas and we not only sing, we dance just as good as we want." Archie...you rock!!
Oh incidentally, quite a few people have asked me over the years why does Archie Bell always introduces Houston Texas in all of his hit records. When John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 Archie heard a DJ saying that nothing good ever came from Texas. Archie wanted to tell the world that they were from Texas and that they were proud to come from there. If you run across any Archie Bell LP''s, get them!! They are gem to have in the precious jewel of soul music!!!!!!!
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I remember when "Tighten Up" came out . I was in junior high school way up north on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin.
Yes, even though we were all "Yankee Crackers" Tighten Up was a big radio hit. I even owned the 45 of it.
It pisses me off that I didn't get to see Archie Bell playing anywhere in the Houston area the 13 years I lived there.I don't remember hearing about him playing anywhere back then. I would have gone in a second. I guess that's reason # 27 for me to move back...