music
�ell with his uncle , Ronald �ell ( left ), and his father , Robert ��ool� �el
ALL ��OTOS COURTESY OF�A�IM �ELL �DANCING : �ILL �ERNANDEZ �NY STUDIOS
heard on SiriusXM , Music Choice and other outlets . The two have a few more collaborations ready to go in the new year .
GIVINGPROPS
It was Bell ’ s dream tostand on the stage at Madison Square Garden with P . O . V . He made it to the stage of MSG , but with Kool & the Gang .
“ Bow down to the gods and all the rest of the guys in the band , too ,” he says . “ George Brown , Dennis Thomas , Clifford Adams , God bless his soul , Michael Ray ... my Uncle Amir ( Bayyan ), who ’ s in the band , Curtis Williams , so many guys . Definitely bow down to Earth , Wind and Fire and all the guys who have been slugging it for years . My dad doesn ’ t seem like he ’ s stopping anytime soon . He ’ s out there promoting his champagne ( Le Kool Champagne ). OK , no Kool & the Gang shows ? I ’ m hitting the road and promoting my champagne in Asbury Park and Atlanta . They understand their calling from God . That ’ s what they ’ re here to do , to share their gift .”
The next time Bell performs with the group will be difficult . His Uncle Khalis Bayyan passed away in September .“ It ’ s going to be different out there without my uncle and his presence , but he left his presence in the music ,” he says .
Be it on stage or behind the turntables , Bell , who gives DJing lessons out of his Montclair office , knows where to take the crowd . “ When we come out of this COVID , people are going to be ready to party ,” he says . “ The deejay business will be back , but we just have to take it day byday and see where it goes .” ■
MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE MAY 2021
��