+ By Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge + Photography courtesy of Kelly Bell
It’s 4:30 in the morning and you’re sitting at the light. Do you hit the gas, or do you do the right thing? My whole life comes down to that.
–Kelly Bell
For 30 years, the Kelly Bell Band (KBB) has been spreading PHAT Blues music throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and the world. PHAT Blues is an amalgamation of Bell’s musical influences, anchored by the blues. Much like his musical tastes, Bell is eclectic. He’s a charismatic entertainer who draws from comedy, professional wrestling, and variety acts such as The Flip Wilson Show to bring audiences an all-around performance. He’s also a licensed clinical social worker with decades of experience and dedication as a mental health professional. He’s martial-arts trained and a retired wrestler. He’s a husband, a friend, a son, and the youngest of three siblings, all titles he wears proudly. His music has never been one-dimensional, and neither is he.
The band was founded in Baltimore, in 1995, as a backup band for Bo Diddley, and by the early 2000s was expanding through the Mid-Atlantic region. In the 2010s, the group toured overseas with Navy Entertainment in support of the US military, making stops in Japan, Spain, Italy, and Germany, to name a few. But Annapolis has long been a second home to KBB, early on playing venues including Armadillo’s Bar & Grill and Eastport Clipper. KBB has played annually at Eastport a Rockin’, Maryland Seafood Festival, and Quiet Waters Park and is also a longtime collaborator with Annapolis staples such as Laughing Colors, Dean Rosenthal, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, and Sweet Leda. Bell recognizes Annapolis as a special hub for music with its own unique artistic sensibilities that differ from neighboring DC and Baltimore.
On stage, Bell is captivating and gregarious, joking with the crowd, inviting them in, and reminding them that the show will be as good as their participation, all while surrendering himself to the energy of the music. The core band is Ryan Fowler and Eric Robinson on guitars, Jon Maurer on keys, Taylor Zimmerman on background vocals and violin, Frankie Hernandez on bass, and John Robert Buell on drums. They follow Bell’s lead, rocking and fully engaged, clearly taking pride in what they’ve created together.
The music spans genres, culminating in its own original sound fueled by Bell’s deep connection to the blues, which, as he says, “reminds us we are not alone in our walk through this world.” That sentiment is why he’s always been adamant about maintaining the blues moniker, despite being urged by promoters to drop it early in his career, their reason being that his sound transcended blues. However, hearing singers such as B. B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland spin heartbreaking stories had a profound effect on him. He realized that if they and so many other blues artists could go through such immense pain and survive, he could too. He credits the blues for saving his life, and that’s where his allegiance comes from.
“I couldn’t do music without a purpose,” says Bell. “It’s the same thing as social work.” Offstage, Bell has four college degrees and is a licensed clinical social worker with 39 years of mental health work experience. He’s been working with youth in Baltimore County schools for just about as long as he’s been gracing the stage. Mr. Bell, as he’s known to his clients, operates in a different dimension from Kelly Bell the entertainer, but the work he puts into his art is not outdone by his work as a mental health professional.
Bell’s former colleague from Hannah More School, Anne Sheehan, LCSW-C, recalls their collaborative group work and Bell’s commitment and investment in the success and well-being of their clients. Dr. Davis Shingleton, now a retired psychiatrist, notes Bell’s “innate drive, energy, and determination; his ability to maintain boundaries and have success in the parallel universes of entertainment and mental health.” Both Sheehan and Shingleton developed friendships with Bell and are no strangers to his stage show. Sheehan loves the mantra that Bell often shouts from the stage: “There is room at the table for us all.” It’s a message of inclusion, collectivism, and hope.
Sometimes the worlds of Mr. Bell and Kelly Bell collide, as they did when KBB performed for Youth Empowered Society (YES), an organization whose mission is to prevent youth homelessness in Baltimore. The band also is a proud supporter of Burgers and Bands for Suicide Prevention, which raises funds and awareness for Severna Park and Annapolis schools and organizations. The organization’s tag line is “You are not alone,” a message that Bell identifies closely with. Shows such as these reinforce his personal mission of helping others and bringing as much joy to the world as he can. That mission is a pronounced throughline in his multifaceted life.
Bell’s tattoo-covered skin displays his affinity for dragons. For him, the dragon is a reminder of pain and darkness in his life. He needs to defeat the dragon but won’t let go of the pain because it drives him to do the inner work and be the best man he can be. “The [worst things] that I’ve ever done in my life have been because of this dragon, but the dragon also gives me power,” says Bell. “It has driven me in ways that I don’t think anyone else could have [and] given me the energy to do what I do. It’s a constant effort to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.”
It’s the reason he goes to a dying friend’s bedside to sing as he transitions, or why he makes custom jewelry boxes for women in the shelter. It’s the reason why he created a segment called Hometown Headliner on WTMD radio to spotlight local bands and poets. It’s why he shouts out the US military at every show. That’s how he defeats the dragon.
Bell tells a story about getting off work at 4 a.m. and dozing off at a stoplight on his way home. He was alone on the road, exhausted, and just wanted to get home. He questioned whether to run the light or wait for it to change. It’s the analogy he uses as a test of integrity. He prides himself on waiting at the light because it’s the right thing to do, because that’s how he wants to live his life.
In January 2025, the band celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. “Year 30 is an obvious [milestone], but not the end by far,” says Bell. “If I’m lucky, it’s not even the middle.” KBB has a full schedule of shows in the DMV this year, including Trifecta Food Truck Festival, Main Street Music Festival, and staples including Eastport a Rockin’ and Quiet Waters Park. They’ve recently added a horn section and will wear suits at every show to commemorate the milestone.
Bell recently hosted the 2024 Maryland Music Awards. The band itself has won in the funk, blues, and R & B categories, and Bell has been nominated for an icon award. While he doesn’t seek the accolades, he recognizes that winning would be a testament not only to his longevity but also to the “folks that I’ve brought with me.”
There’s been no shortage of musicians who’ve played in or alongside the KBB. And even if it’s a shared bill, there will be a jam session at the end. Many musicians end up forming a bond with Bell that extends beyond the stage, demonstrating countless examples of where his artistry and humanity intersects. It’s proof in his belief that there’s room at the table for us all. Regardless of awards or accolades, Kelly Bell is an icon in the eyes of many, and if he has it his way, PHAT Blues music will be heard for at least 30 more years.
