Thom Bell, Philadelphia soul icon, dies at 79

Thom Bell, the enduring pioneer of Philadelphia soul in the '70s, passed away on Thursday (December 22) in Bellingham

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The news was first reported by Philly R&B radio station 15.3 WDAS-FM, with host Patty Jackson pronouncing

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"We Remember Thom Bell: Record Maker, Arranger and Songwriter Renowned for His Work with Linda Creed

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The station also paid a unique tribute to the late musician on its website by sharing a video of the Bell-produced 1972

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Bell's lawyer showed his death to Billboard and said: "Thom Bell left an indelible and eternal mark on the history of popular music

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but more than that, he will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind and loving friend.

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Nile Rodgers also took to social media to pay his respects to Bell, tweeting, “#RIPThomBell is one of the greatest writers

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He was the architect of the connection between #BernardEdwards

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