William Bell

William Bell, born Yarbrough on July 16, 1939, is a distinguished American soul singer and songwriter whose contributions have significantly shaped the music landscape. He gained prominence with his debut single, "You Don't Miss Your Water," released in 1961. Bell achieved further acclaim with his 1968 duet "Private Number" alongside Judy Clay, which reached the UK top 10. His 1976 hit "Tryin' to Love Two" not only made it into the US top 40 but also soared to No. 1 on the R&B chart. Following the tragic passing of Otis Redding, Bell honored him with the heartfelt song "A Tribute to a King."

In addition to his performance career, Bell's songwriting prowess is noteworthy. He co-wrote "Any Other Way," which became a hit for Chuck Jackson, and his own earlier version preceded it. Bell also penned "To Be a Lover," which Billy Idol turned into a 1986 chart-topper; his original rendition was titled "I Forgot to Be Your Lover." Furthermore, he contributed to the iconic blues track "Born Under A Bad Sign," later popularized by both Albert King and Cream.

While Bell is often associated with Stax Records, he is not related to the label's former president, Al Bell. His recent accomplishments include winning a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album in 2017 for "This Is Where I Live," and he made a memorable appearance at the Grammy Awards, performing "Born Under a Bad Sign" with Gary Clark Jr. His work was also celebrated in Rolling Stone's "Best of the Grammys" that year.