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John Bell (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Farmer Bell is the lead singer and rhythm guitar
ist for the American
rock band Widespread Panic
, where he is known for his raspy southern drawl that hits a variety of octaves. He is frequently called JB by fans. For more than 25 years, the voice has fueled 150 concerts a year all over the country and created a road warrior mentality for the band and its fans.
Bell grew up in Cleveland
, Ohio
, where he graduated from University School
in 1980. He attended the University of Georgia
and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon
fraternity where he, Michael Houser
, and Dave Schools
met while Houser was playing at an open mic night. "Panic," as Houser was nicknamed, began playing with JB and Schools at local Athens, GA clubs, playing mostly cover songs
. Throughout the more than 25 year history of Widespread Panic, they have earned a following throughout the land- especially in the South and Colorado, of fans who often travel the whole of the Country and Europe to follow their sound, with their friends, and its John Bell who has forever been the troubadour of this traveling circus. The media and business have long been rather impressed by the machine that is this band, and have consistently asked Bell for a personal explanation of what has been accomplished. The responses to television personalities or interviews with reporters has forever been a unique blend of evasiveness and charm which only partially answers the question but still warrants all involved to want more, more, more.
John Bell is an active philanthropist
, most notably as an advocate for SMA (spinal muscular atrophy
). Bell has helped raise over $2 million for SMA research, mostly through his involvement with "Hannah's Buddies". The foundation is named for Bell's
goddaughter
and niece, who lives with SMA. Bell is involved in an annual fundraiser featuring a golf tournament and evening concert by "JB and Friends," featuring John Bell solo, as well as performing with guests. Guest performers at the benefit have included Col. Bruce Hampton, Vic Chesnutt
, John Keane, and Bloodkin, as well as Grammy Award
winner Robert Randolph and the Family Band and the North Mississippi Allstars
, and Nickel and the Polar Bears. He has also performed at various Habitat for Humanity
benefit concerts put on by Warren Haynes
.
Bell resides in the north Georgia mountain town of Dahlonega
with his wife, Laura who he met while in New Orleans, Louisiana
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, where he is known for his raspy southern drawl that hits a variety of octaves. He is frequently called JB by fans. For more than 25 years, the voice has fueled 150 concerts a year all over the country and created a road warrior mentality for the band and its fans.
Bell grew up in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where he graduated from University School
University School
University School, commonly referred to as US, is an all-boys K - 12 school with two campus locations in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area...
in 1980. He attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
fraternity where he, Michael Houser
Michael Houser
Michael Houser was the lead guitarist of the band Widespread Panic.Houser was born in Boone, North Carolina, graduated from Hixson High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and became a founding member of Widespread Panic in 1982 while attending the University of Georgia with John Bell...
, and Dave Schools
Dave Schools
Dave Schools aka "Dave Smalls", is the bassist for the band Widespread Panic , and hails from Richmond, Virginia. In addition to playing with Panic, he has had numerous side projects with Jerry Joseph, The Stockholm Syndrome, J Mascis and the Fog, Slang, and Acetate...
met while Houser was playing at an open mic night. "Panic," as Houser was nicknamed, began playing with JB and Schools at local Athens, GA clubs, playing mostly cover songs
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
. Throughout the more than 25 year history of Widespread Panic, they have earned a following throughout the land- especially in the South and Colorado, of fans who often travel the whole of the Country and Europe to follow their sound, with their friends, and its John Bell who has forever been the troubadour of this traveling circus. The media and business have long been rather impressed by the machine that is this band, and have consistently asked Bell for a personal explanation of what has been accomplished. The responses to television personalities or interviews with reporters has forever been a unique blend of evasiveness and charm which only partially answers the question but still warrants all involved to want more, more, more.
John Bell is an active philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, most notably as an advocate for SMA (spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. The clinical spectrum of SMA ranges from early infant death to normal adult life with only mild weakness...
). Bell has helped raise over $2 million for SMA research, mostly through his involvement with "Hannah's Buddies". The foundation is named for Bell's
goddaughter
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
and niece, who lives with SMA. Bell is involved in an annual fundraiser featuring a golf tournament and evening concert by "JB and Friends," featuring John Bell solo, as well as performing with guests. Guest performers at the benefit have included Col. Bruce Hampton, Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
, John Keane, and Bloodkin, as well as Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winner Robert Randolph and the Family Band and the North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars is a Southern rock/blues jam band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is composed of brothers Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew...
, and Nickel and the Polar Bears. He has also performed at various Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
benefit concerts put on by Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
.
Bell resides in the north Georgia mountain town of Dahlonega
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242....
with his wife, Laura who he met while in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...