norma jean bell
norma jean bell
Norma Jean Bell was a part of Frank Zappa's Mothers Of
Invention from November 1, 1975, until December of the same year.
She did perform at the December 9 gig in Quebec, but wasn't part of the band on
December 26.
Before joining the Zappa band, she had toured as a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra from April through June 1975.
She appears on the "Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa" album that got released in 1996, and on "Joe's Menage", released in 2008.
According to Terry Bozzio, she was released from service due to drug use (from an interview with the "Idiot Bastard" on 12/07/1992).
Besides Zappa, Norma Jean Bell has also performed with Tommy Bolin, Dave Mason, Raydio, Narada Michael Walden and Milt Jackson.
In the early nineties she started the very succesfull Detroit based Pandamonium record label, a famous 'house and dance music' label. She is a very famous saxophone player, producer and singer in the 'house and dance music' scene.
discography
| dave mason: it's like you never left (1973, lp, usa, columbia) - feat. norma jean bell |
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| tommy bolin: private eyes (1976, lp, usa, columbia) - feat. norma jean bell |
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| narada michael walden: garden of love light (1976, lp, usa, columbia) - feat. norma bell |
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michael henderson: solid (1976, lp, usa, buddah records) - feat. norma jean bell |
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narada michael walden: i cry, i smile (1977, lp, usa, atlantic) - feat. norma jean bell |
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lamont johnson: music of the sun (1978, lp, usa, tabu records) - feat. norma jean bell |
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raydio: rock on (1979, lp, usa, arista) - feat. norma jean bell |
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kenny dixon jr.: moodymann ep |
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moodymann: the dancer |
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moodymann: the dancer |
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norma jean bell: i like the things you do for
me |
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norma jean bell: nobody is gonna love you
(remixes) |
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norma jean bell: nobody's gonna love you
(like i do!) |
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66 |
frank zappa: frank zappa plays the
music of frank zappa (1996, cd, usa, barking pumpkin) |
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norma jean bell: i'm the baddest bitch |
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norma jean bell: i'm the baddest bitch (in
the room) |
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norma jean bell: i'm the baddest bitch
(remixes) |
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norma jean bell: i'm the baddest bitch - the
baddest mixes |
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norma jean bell: love me in the rain |
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norma jean bell: one of those nights |
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norma jean bell: dreams / love's got it's
hooks in me |
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norma jean bell: i'm the only queen |
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norma jean bell: do you wanna party |
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norma jean bell: friday night (remixes) |
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norma jean bell: come into my room |
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norma jean bell: come into my room |
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moodymann: find another woman |
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moodymann: the dancer |
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norma jean bell: come into my room |
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norma jean bell: dreams / mystery |
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norma jean bell: london fog |
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norma jean bell: nobody |
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norma jean bell: 4 am |
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norma jean bell: fun comin on |
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norma jean bell: i'm the only queen |
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norma jean bell: it shows - remix |
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norma jean bell: what cha do for me - remix |
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moodymann: the dancer (re-release) |
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| the gallery collective: the dance (????, 12", ??, prescription) = norma jean bell & ron trent |
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moodymann: black mahogani |
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moodymann: black mahogani |
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3 chairs: three chairs 3 |
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| 3 chairs:
three chairs 3 (2004, 2cd, ??, three chairs) - feat. norma bell |
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84 |
frank zappa: joe's menage (2008, cd, usa, vaulternative records) |
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random notes
From: Jan van Kemenade
Some 'Whatever happened..' trivia. The 'Big Note' (an overview of all Zappa
bands, the format is a IBM quick reference card) a certain Norma Bell is listed
as being a band member during the '75 fall tour. I've found a Norma Jean Bell
on Sax & Vocals in the (late) Tommy Bolin band, fall '76. There are several live
recordings of that band. I couldn't find Ms. (or Mrs.) Bell's name on the
musician's list, so I don't know whether recordings exist but she definitely was
a member.
Norma Jean Bell plays on Narada Michael Walden's 'Garden of Love Light' ('76).
From: Michael Scott
She is doing some jazzy house music now with Kenny Dixon jnr aka Moodyman and
has released "I'm The Baddest Bitch" on F Communications "I Like The Things you
do for Me" on Balance /Prescription "Who 's Gunna love You Like I Do" on
Pandamonium etc
Playing the Sax so it must be the same lady anymore info anyone has I'd be keen
to know because I love her sound regards
-- michael scott
From: Charles Ulrich
Norma Jean Bell auditioned for McLaughlin just before joining FZ.
From: Jon Naurin
Last known Zappa show with Norma Bell: Quebec 75/12/09
From: Andre Lewis
As for Norma Bell, she was a badass sax player and not just for a girl.
A real bad ass.
From: "Dan B."
I have a live CD from The Tommy Bolin band from '76 at Ebbets Field featuring
Norma Jean Bell on sax and vocals (and the great drummer Narada Michael Walden,
etc.). Anyway, in the attached newsletter there's some info from brother Johnnie
Bolin: "Norma Bell was playing with Frank Zappa in Los Angeles when Tommy asked
her to audition. I remember Tommy saying he went down and saw Norma at S.I.R.
Studios, where she was rehearsing with Frank Zappa and Terry Bozzio on drums...
when he got the final line-up, he (Tommy Bolin) said it was the most phenomenal
band he had ever worked with."
So I guess Bell quit Zappa's band to join Bolin's. Not the greatest information,
but at least it mentions Zappa a bit. (Wonder if FZ had an opinion on Bolin's
guitar playing and/or his music?)
From: Tom Tuerff
Pat--here's a link to a page on Mark Stein's website. He was lead singer of "Da
Fudge!" and after Vanilla Fudge broke up he joined Tommy Bolin's band and toured
with Norma Bell. I'll bet he knows all about the Mud Shark, too...
http://www.mark-stein.com/gallery/page22.htm
She plays on: "Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa"
From Andrew Wissing
In addition to being a Zappa fan I am also a Tommy Bolin fan. The entry about
Norma Bell doesn't hold water if one studies the gig dates. The "story" says
that she quit FZ when she was offered a spot in Bolin's band. But her last date
with FZ was five or six months before she played with Tommy. The last Norma
Bell gig with Frank was in Toronto Dec 9, 1975. On that day Bolin was touring
the Far East with Deep Purple. It wouldn't make any sense for him to be hiring
to fill his solo band until after the Deep Purple Tour was finished. Bolin
probably started recruiting his band after that Purple tour, which lasted until
Feb 1976. Norma's first documented show with Tommy was 4/28/76. I suppose its
possible that Tommy offered her the job before he started his tour with Purple,
but I'm skeptical. I think it's more likely she quit or was fired by FZ, months
before Bolin offered her a job.
-- one day later, Andrew added --
I found this interview with Bozzio which suggests she was fired for drugs. She would have fit right in with Bolin's lifestyle (deathstyle?). She was touring with him when he died from an overdose on December 4, 1976 (FZ died on the same day in 1993)
snippet from Terry Bozzio interview:
(http://www.idiotbastard.supanet.com/interviews/TERRY%20BOZZIO,%2027.9.92.htm)
Terry Bozzio: Norma Bell was a woman who came from Detroit. She’s a really good saxophone player. She played with Tommy Bolin and, I think, Ralph Armstrong who was being considered for the gig at the time. He was the Mahavishnu’s bass player. He suggested her. She played with us on stage somewhere like Detroit, where she lived, and then Frank brought her along on the road. By the time we got back to LA at the end of the tour she had pretty much succumbed to, you know, hanging out with the wrong people and doing a lot of drugs. And so Frank said, “Forget this!” She wasn’t showing up for rehearsals. She didn’t last very long. I don’t think we recorded anything with her.
2006 11 06
Sometime
ago Eric Wheelwright and Norma Jean Bell
collaborated on a song which has finally been made available to the public. The
song was an original Eric Wheelwright song titled "Genesis" which was
re-cut with Norma Jean Bell playing sax. The title of the CD is "Journey,
The Story of Life".
To sample this song log onto www.myspace.com/ericwheelwright.
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