Vinnie Bell profile picture

Vinnie Bell

Vinnie Bell Studio Guitarist

About Me

My Dear Friends: If you need to contact me please use the mailbox listed on my web page www.vinniebell.com I will get back to you. Please be patient for I have a hectic schedule along with hundreds of emails daily, which I must sort through.Love Vinnie.One of the two or three greatest guitar geeks of the Space Age Pop era, Vinnie Bell will go down in musical history as the inventor of the "watery" guitar sound that was a big fad in instrumental recordings of the late 1960s. Used most prominently on Ferrante and Teicher's 1969 Top Ten cover of the theme to "Midnight Cowboy," the effect became perhaps the most-copied technique among guitarists until the wah-wah pedal became standard equipment in the 1970s. Actually, Bell can probably take credit for the wah-wah pedal, too, as there is evidence that he built them as far back as the early 1950s. Constantly experimenting with home-made electronic devices to modify or distort electric guitar effects, Bell played on somewhere around a gazillion studio sessions in New York and Los Angeles throughout the 1960s and 1970s.Bell picked up the guitar at an early age, and when he was still in his teens, was studying with two of the best players on the New York City scene, Carmen Mastren and Tony Mottola. Bell played in nightclubs in the New York City era into the early 1960s, but by 1962, he decided to devote his energies to working as a studio musician. Well before that, he was already sitting in as a session player on various recordings, often to take advantage of the unique guitar effects he was known for producing. His early wah-wah designs can be heard on such rare singles as "Jersey Bounce" by the Spacemen and "Smoke Rings" by the Overtones. A very early example of his "watery guitar" effect can be heard on "Barracuda," a 1959 single by the Gallahads on Vic (produced by Billy Mure, by the way).Although he only recorded occasionally under his own name, Bell left his indelible mark on many recordings. He added the distinctive "chick" sound that comes of the end of each phrase on Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" and also stands out on Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." For one of Joe Harnell's albums, he combined a Greek bouzouki with electronics to produce the "bellzouki." Charles Fox leaned heavily on Bell for his score for the legendary Jane Fonda space sex kitten saga, Barbarella. Even Lester Lanin succumbed to Bell's spell, hiring him and Fox for his album, Narrowing the Generation Gap. Several decades later, his pedalboard tremolo was used to tremendous effect in the bass guitar part that leads off Angelo Badalamenti's atmospheric theme to David Lynch's television series, "Twin Peaks."His first album, Whistle Stop, was a real showcase of his array of guitar effects. It was such a departure from its usual jazz fare that the label, Verve, felt compelled to include the following warning in the liner notes:SPECIAL NOTE TO THE CONSUMER AND RECORD REVIEWER: This album contains recordings by VINNIE BELL, at this writing New York's busiest studio guitar player. It is designed to show-case Vinnie's electronic genius and his musicianship. The album is based on the contemporary, popular, instrumental approach to recording. This is not a JAZZ recording. Despite Verve's attempt to distance itself, the album's a terrific compilation of rockin' tunes. Arranged by Bell, Four Seasons arranger Charles Callelo, and Claus Ogerman, it stands up as one of the very best early "now sounds" albums. It's also of some historical significance as one of the earliest albums to use real-time electronic guitar effects instead of tape manipulation or multi-tracking. Bell invented a number of electric guitar models for Danelectro, Coral, and other companies. He designed perhaps the first electric 12-string guitar, and invented the electric sitar in 1967, using it on such hits as "Green Tambourine" by the Lemon Pipers, "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne, and "Heartbreaker" by Gene Pitney. His own album Pop Goes the Electric Sitar is a highly valued collectable, going for $50 and more a copy on eBay.Bell, Al Caiola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Mottola, and several other busy session guitarists set up an informal partnership known as the Manhattan Guitar Club in the mid-1960s. To avoid the cost of paying a cartage company to haul their amplifiers around to the various studios in the city, the group bought amps that they left in each studio under padlock. Someone on the studio engineering staff had the key, along with instructions about who was allowed to use it. However, it was no secret that a fair number of non-club members were able to sweet-talk their way into getting it unlocked.Although primarily based in New York, Bell regularly flew out for L.A. sessions, ranging from "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees to Frank Sinatra's late-career set, Trilogy. He also performed on hundreds of soundtracks, from "The Godfather" to "Twin Peaks," and more recently, "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Holy Smoke." And his work on television and radio commercial probably comprises over a thousand ads. He was voted Most Valuable Player on Electric Guitar seven times by the New York chapter of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and given their Emeritus award in the late 80's.Bell was one of the few session men to regularly rate a mention in an album's credits or liner notes, at least when his special effects were a major ingredient. On the other hand, for every credit, there were hundreds of sessions, ranging from Herman's Hermits to Perrey and Kingsley's landmark Now Sounds from Outer Space album, for which his name was never mentioned. For space age pop fans, the sight of Vinnie Bell's name on an album is usually a sure sign of something well worth a listen.For more information, check out Vinnie's own website: www.vinniebell.com.Recordings 51 Motion Picture Favorites, Musicor MS-3009 16 Big Guitar Favorites, Musicor MS-3047 The Best of Vinnie Bell, Musicor MS-3192 Whistle Stop, Verve S-8574 Pop Goes the Electric Sitar, Decca DL 74938 Airport Love Theme, Decca DLP-75212 Good Morning Starshine, Decca DLP-75138

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/19/2007
Band Website: vinniebell.com
Band Members: ==== JINGLES THAT VINCENT BELL HAS PLAYED ON ====1ST UNION BANK - 7-UP - SPANISH MARKET - A D T (PATSY CLINE) - A.M.C .- AT&T - ABC SOCCER THEME - ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT - ABSOLUT - ABSORBINE - ADIDAS - ADORN - ADT - AERO MEXICO - ALCOA - ALFRED DUNHILL PIPES - ALKA-SELTZER - ALLSTATE INSURANCE - ALMOND JOY - ALPO - AMERICAN EXPRESS - AMARETTO - AMOCO - ANNAPOLIS - APPLE COMPUTERS - APPRI - ARBY'S CHEWELS - ARM & HAMMER - ARMSTRONG - ARROW FOR MEN - ARTHUR TREACHER'S FISH & CHIPS - AUNT JEMIMA PANCAKES - AUNT JEMIMA SYRUP - AVIS - AVON - B&D DUSTBUSTER - B.V.D. - BACARDI - BACO'S - BALLY - BANCO DE PONCE - BANCO POPULAR - BANK OF AMERICA - BANK OF BOSTON - BANK OF LANSING - BANK OHIO - BANKERS VISA - BARNEYS - BAUSCH & LOMB - BAYER ASPIRIN - BENIHANNA - BERTOLI EXTRA VIRGIN - BEST WESTERN - BISSELL - BLACK & DECKER - BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO - BLOOMINGDALES - BLUE BONNET - BOBOLI - BORAXO - BREYER'S - BRITA WATER FILTER - BRITISH AIRWAYS - BRUT FOR MEN - BRYLCREEM - BUD LIGHT - BUDWEISER BEER - BUDWEISER (SPANISH MARKET) - BUITONI - BURGER-KING - BUSCH BEER - BUSH GARDENS - CABARET (SHOW JINGLE) - CADBURY'S - CADILLAC SEVILLE - CALVIN KLEIN - CAMPBELL'S SOUP - CANADA DRY (SPANISH MARKET) - CANON - CARNEGIE DELI - CASTOR OIL - CASTRO CONVERTIBLES - CENTRUM VITAMINS - CENTURY 21 - CHANEL - CHARMIN - CHASE VISA - CHEER - CHEERIOS HONEY NUTS - CHEVY (CAN'T TAKE MY EYES) - CHEVY CAVALIER - CHEVY MALIBU - CHEVY MONZA - CHEVY TRUCKS - CHEVY-1982 - CHEVY-CAMERO - CHEVY-CHEVETTE - CHIPS AHOY - CHIVAS REGAL - CHOCK FULL O NUTS - CHRYSLER - CITIBANK - CITIBANK MASTERCARD - CLAIROL - CLEAR AID - CLOROX - COCO PUFFS - COKE - COLGATE - COLGATE (SPANISH MARKET) - COMMUNITY SAVING - CONCORD AIRLINES - CONNIE SHOES - CONTINENTAL AIRLINES - CONTOUR CHAIRS - COOLWHIP - COPPERTONE - CORICIDIN - CORNINGWARE - CORVETTE - COTTONELLE BOUNTY - COTY NUANCE - COUNTRYTIME LEMONADE - COVER GIRL - CRAYOLA - CRAZY EDDIE'S - CREAM OF WHEAT - CREST - CREST TOOTHPASTE - CROSS PENS - CUISINART - CVS COMMENT - DAIRY QUEEN - DATSUN - DELL COMPUTER - DELMONTE PINEAPPLE - DIAL SOAP - DIET PEPSI - DINERS CLUB - DISNEYLAND - DISNEYWORLD - DODGE CARS - DOMINO CUBES - DOMINO SUGAR - DOMINO'S PIZZA - DONNA KARAN CLOTHES - DO-NUTS - DORITOS - DOVE SOAP - DR. SCHOLL'S FOOT POWDER - DRANO - DUNCAN DONUTS - DUNCAN HINES - DUNCAN YOYO - DUNHILL - DURACELL BATTERIES - DUTCH BOY PAINTS - EASTERN AIRLINES - EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE - ELMERS GLUE - EMERSON (RADIO & TV) - ENERGIZER BATTERIES - ENJOLI PERFUME - EUREKA VACUUM - EXXON - F.A.O. SCHWARTZ - FAB - FAB COLOR-PLUS - FAB SUNSHINE - FERRARI - FLINTSTONE VITAMINS - FOLGERS COFFEE - FOLGERS COFFEE (FOLKS) - FORD - FORD MUSTANG - FORTUNOFF'S - FRENCH'S MUSTARD - FRITO LAY - FRITO LAY (WALK LIKE A MAN) - FRITOS - FRUIT OF THE LOOM - FUDDRUCKERS RESTAURANTS - FUJI FILM - FUJI FILM (ARANJUEZ )- GALLO CHIANTI - GALLO VIN ROSE - GARANIMALS - GARCIA Y VEGA - GEICO INSURANCE - GENERAL ELECTRIC - GENERAL FOODS, LTD. - GENERAL MOTORS - G.I. JOE TOYS - GILLETTE (CLOSE SHAVE) - GILLETTE (STRIPPER) - GIORGIO ARMANI CUSTOM CLOTHES - GITANO - GLADE PLUG-IN'S - GLENDALE FEDERAL BANK - GM CREDIT CARD (RUBY & THE ROMANTICS) - GMC 'DENAL' CAR - GODIVA CHOCOLATE - GOLDEN NUGGET - GOLDSTAR MICROWAVE - GOOD HUMOR ICE CREAM - GOODRICH - GOODYEAR BLIMP - GRAHAM CRACKERS - GREASE (SHOW JINGLE) - GREEN GIANT VEGETABLES - GREY POUPON - GRIFFIN SHOE POLISH - GUCCI - GULF OIL - HAGGEN-DAZS - HAINSE - HALLMARK - HAMBURGER-HELPER - HANES - HANES PANTYHOSE - HARLEY-DAVIDSON - HARVEY RADIO - HASBRO - HASBRO INC. - HBO TV THEME - HEAD & SHOULDERS - HERSHEY - HERSHEY'S KISSES - HERTZ - HERTZ NUNZIO - HEWLETT PACKARD - HILFINGER - HILLS PET FOODS - HIRES ROOT-BEER - HOFFRITZ CUTLERY - HONEY NUT - HOOVER VACUUM - HORMELS - HOWARD CLOTHES - HUNTS TOMATO PASTE - HUSH PUPPIES - HYATT HOTELS - IBM - IBM-JAPAN - IDEAL TOYS - I-HOP RESTAURANT - INTERPLAK - IRISH SPRING - IVORY LIQUI-GEL - J.C. PENNEY - JAGUAR - JEEP (DAYDREAM) - JELLO - JELLO - SPANISH MARKET - JERGENS - JERGENS LOTION - JERKY TREATS - JIFFY LUBE - JOE'S STONE CRABS - JOHNSON & JOHNSON - JVC ELECTRONICS - K.F.C. - K.F.C. - SPANISH MARKET - KELLOGG'S - KEN & BARBIE DOLLS - KENT CIGARETTES - KIT-KAT - KIWI SHOE POLISH - KLONDIKE ICE CREAM - K-MART - KODAK - KODAK - SPANISH MARKET - KODAK (TIME OF YOUR LIFE) - KOOL CIGARETTES - KOZAC CAR PRODUCTS - KRAFT - KRAFT CHEDDAR - KRAFT SALAD DRESSING - L'EGGS PANTYHOSE - LA ROSA FOODS - LABLATT'S BEER - LAKE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK - LAKE GEORGE - LANE BRYANT - LAVA SOAP - LAYNE BRYANT - LEGO - LEMON TREE - LENOX CRYSTAL - LEVI STRAUSS - LIFESAVERS - LIGHT & LIVELY - LINCOLN TOWN CAR - LIONEL TRAINS - LIPTON RICE - LISTERINE - LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA - LITTLE FRISKIES - LONG JOHN SILVER - LONGINE WATCHES - LUCKY CHARMS CEREAL - LUCKY STRIKE - LYSOL - M&M'S - MACY'S - MAGNAVOX TV - MARCH OF DIMES - MARLBORO CIGARETTES - MARTINSON'S COFFEE - MASTERCARD - MATEUS WINE - MAUNA LOA MACADAMIA NUTS - MAXWELL HOUSE - MAYBELLINE - MAYS DEPARTMENT STORE - MAZZOLA OIL - MCDONALD'S - MCDONALD'S (LOVE LUST) - MEATY BONE DOG FOOD - MEDAGLIA D'ORO ESPRESSO - MEMBERS ONLY JACKETS - MENNEN SHAVE - MERCEDES - METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE - MICHELIN TIRES - MICHELOB - MIDLANTIC MASTERCARD - MILK-BONE DOG FOOD - MINNEAPOLIS BANK - MINUTE MAID CONCENTRATE - MINUTE MAID OJ - MINUTE RICE - MIN-WAX - MIRACLE WHIP - MITSUBISHI CARS - MOBIL - MONOPOLY - MONT BLANC PENS - MOTOROLA - MOTOROLA STARTAC CELLPHONE - MOUNTAIN VALLEY SPRING WATER - MOVADO WATCHES - MR. CLEAN - MRS. PAUL'S FISH STICKS - MRS. SMITH'S PIES - MUELLER'S MACARONI - MUZAK - NABISCO - NABISCO (MANDOLIN) - NEIMAN MARCUS - NESTLES - NEUTROGENA - NEW ENGLAND HONDA - NEWPORT LIGHTS CIGARETTES - NEXXUS SHAMPOO - NIKON - NISSAN SENTRA CARS - NIVEA HAND CREAM - NOKIA CELLPHONE - NORELCO SHAVERS - NORTHWEST MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE - NOXELL - NOXEMA CREAM - N.Y. STATE LOTTERY - OLD GOLD CIGARETTES - OLD MILWAUKEE BEER - OLD SPICE COLOGNE - OLDS CARS - OLIVE GARDEN RESTAURANT - OLYMPIC AIRLINES (DANCING IN AISLES) - OMEGA WATCHES - OPTIMA CIGARS - ORE-IDA COOKIES - OSCAR MEYER - PABST-XTRALITE BEER - PAMPERS - PAN-AM AIRLINES - PANASONIC WET/DRY SHAVER - PENSKE TRUCK RENTAL - PARLIAMENT CIGARETTES - PBS TV - PEARLE VISION - PERRIER - PEZ - PIERRE CARDIN - PILLSBURY BISCUITS - PILLSBURY FLOUR - PIZZA HUT - PLANTERS NUTS - PLAYBOY CLUB - PLAYTEX BRA - PLEDGE POLISH - PNC BANK (ELVIS) - POLAROID - POLO COLOGNE - POND'S - PONDEROSA SHAVE LOTION - PONTIAC GRAND AM - POPEYE'S RESTAURANT - PORSCHE - POSNER SHOES - PREGO SAUCE - PRILOSEC - PRINGLE'S POTATO CHIPS - PROCTOR & GAMBLE - PROGRESSO - PRUDENTIAL - PIECE OF THE ROCK - PUERTO RICO TOURISM - PULSAR WATCHES - PURDUE CHICKENS - PURINA DOG CHOW - Q-TIPS - QUAKER OATS - QUAKER STATE OIL - RAGU - RAIN AUTO WAX - RAINTREE RESTAURANT - RAISIN BRAN - RAMADA INNS - RATHEON ELECTRONICS - RAY-BAN TV - RAYOVAC BATTERIES - RCA - REDDI-WHIP - REESE'S BUTTERCUPS - REMINGTON SHAVER - RENAULT CARS - RENUZIT - REVLON - REYNOLDS WRAP - RIGHT GUARD UNDERARM SPRAY - RIVE GAUCHE PERFUME - RIZZOLI BOOKS - ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SAVINGS BANK - ROLAIDS RELIEF - ROLLEIFLEX CAMERAS - ROLEX WATCHES - ROLODEX - RONZONI MACARONI - ROSS BIKES - ROY ROGERS RESTAURANT - SAFEWAY - SAKS FIFTH AVE (GIO) - SAMSONITE LUGGAGE - SAMSUNG (NAME GAME) - SAMSUNG MICROWAVE - SANI-FLUSH - SANKA - SARA LEE PIES - SAVERIN - SBARRO RESTAURANT - SCALPICIN - SCHAEFER - SCHLITZ - SCOTCH-TAPE - SCIENCE DIET 'B.F.' - SCOPE MOUTHWASH - SCRIPTO - SEA & SKI - SEARS JEANS - SEBRING CARS - SEIKO - SELECT COMFORT - SESAME STREET - SHERWIN WILLIAMS - SIBONEY USA - SILVER BURDETT - SINGER SEWING MACHINE - SIZZLERS - SMITH-CORONA - SNAPPLE - SNICKERS BAR - SOUTHERN BELL (SPANKY & OUR GANG) - SPALDING - SPEIDEL - SPRITE - STANLEY TOOLS - STATE FARM INSURANCE - STETSON COLOGNE - STOCK VERMOUTH - STOLICHNAYA - STOUFFERS LEAN CUISINE - STROH'S LIGHT BEER - SUBWAY SANDWICHES - SUBWAY - GONDOLA - SUNBEAM - SUN-FUN - SUNOCO - SURE - SUZUKI (TAILGATE) - SUZUKI (FITS) - SUZUKI JUMP - SUZUKI XL7 - SWANSON - SWANSON BROTH - SWEET'N LOW - SWIFT'S - SWINGLINE STAPLER - TACO-BELL - TAMPAX - TASTY-BREAD - TAYLOR CHAMPAGNE - TAYLOR WINE - TEXACO - TIC-TAC - TIDE DETERGENT - TIME MAGAZINE - TIMEX - TINKERTOY - TITLIST GOLF BALLS - TONY THE TIGER - TOOTSIE ROLLS - TORO - TOYOTA - TOYS 'R' US - TROPICANA - TROPICANA OJ - TRUE VALUE - TUPPERWARE - TURTLE-WAX - U.S. ARMY - U.S. MARINE CORPS - U.S. NAVY ENLISTMENT - U.S. POSTAL SERVICE - ULTRA-BRITE - UNDERALLS - V-8 - VAN HEUSEN SHIRTS - VASELINE - SPANISH MARKET - VESPA SCOOTERS - VIC - VIDAL SASSOON - VISA - VISA U.S.A. - VOLKSWAGEN - WALLACHS CLOTHES Ð BULLFIGHTER - WATER PIC - WCTN NEWS - WEBER BARBECUE - WEIGHT WATCHERS - WENDY'S - WESTERN WORLD - WESTINGHOUSE - WHEATIES - WHIRLPOOL - WINDEX - WONDER-BREAD - WOOLITE - WPTR ALBANY - WRANGLER JEANS - WURLITZER MUSIC - ZANTAC (THAT'S AMORE) - ZENITH - ZEST ____________________________________________________________ ____For a complete list of Artists I have worked with please visit my site www.vinniebell.com
Influences: TONY MOTTOLA - MY PROFOUNDEST INFLUENCE!Some of my other important influences:PAUL ANKA - DON ARNONE - ANGELO BADALAMENTI - MICKEY BAKER - EVERETT BARKSDALE - GEORGE BARNES - SAM BONANNO - GEORGE BRACKMAN - BILLY BYERS - AL CAIOLA - JOE CINDERELLA - DON COSTA - JOHN D'ANGELICO - NAT DANIEL - GENE DARROW - MILTON DELUGG - MARION EVANS - RAY ELLIS - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - HENRY GLOVER - BEN GOLDMAN - ALAN HANLON - TIGER HAYNES - DICK HYMAN - GASPER LIPANI - CHARLES MACEY - MARTY MANNING - CARMEN MASTREN - BILLY MURE - REMO PALMIER - LES PAUL - NICK PERITO - SID RAMIN - DJANGO REINHARDT - CHARLES RUOFF - DON SEBESKY - JOHNNY SMITH - HARRY VOLPE - LEONARD WARE - KEN AND MITZI WELCH
Sounds Like: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/tsgtv/index.html?id=TSGV15-13&a mp;link=TSGTVshlk
Type of Label: Major