Slither Speaks - with Michael Bell

SlitherSPEAKS

Musicians of the K awa rt h as

Featuring Michael Bell

By JAY COOPER SLITHER PRODUCTIONS

Music has been Michael’s calling since the days he danced to the Jackson 5 as a toddler.

Grade school choirs and high school bands introduced him to the audience. Attending Adam Scott HS, he joined the music program, playing a variety of instruments and music styles. Standup bass in the dixie band, baritone sax and percussion in the concert band, when and where he was needed. His music teacher, Greg Knox, put an electric bass in Michael’s hands and invited him to play in his swing band. That introduction kindled a life long love of swing music. At the same time, he was fronting what was to go on to be the local cult success Strobic Axe, a new wave punk outfit touring an indie LP and packing venues. (They were the first band to ever play Crary Park, setting up on the grass and using a makeshift hydro connection!)

After highschool, the band imploded with members heading out on their own. Michael took to busking the streets of Toronto and Canada, developing his songwriting and survival skills. On a return home, performing at a small coffee shop on Charlotte St, Michael met the band playing at the Grand Hotel. He and their guitarist would go on to form the band Eye Eye and win the 1984 Q107 Homegrown Contest.

A few months later, he meet his wife and left the band and performing on the road. Instead, Michael began to write and record. He received the FACTOR New Talent Award and went into the studio to record a number of tracks with Greg Wells. But as they say in the biz, timing is everything and Greg was whisked

away to the US to pursue bigger opportunities. Michael hunkered down in Peterborough, produced the city’s first homegrown LP with CKPT Radio, opened a small performance coffee-shop (Afterwards at the Aloha) and started the The Wire newspaper. He wrote and recorded his fourth CD as Number One World, and staged Changes All Bowie, a multimedia musical fascination of the artist. He also played around the area with Felix & the Swing Cats with now musical partner and drummer Michael Beauclerc.

Thirty years later, The Wire is still on the streets, he’s still married to that same woman. And now, with time on their hands, Michael has begun marketing himself as a musician again. Three years ago, Michael was singing Buble and Sinatra and playing the resorts. In 2017, Michael produced and now performs Bowie Lives: A tribute to David Bowie. He’s currently touring that show throughout Ontario, and looks forward to performing in Peterborough this year.

A most interesting life, Michael Bell had the chance to meet some of the biggest personalities, volunteer in his community on some of the most interesting projects, travel, enjoy his family, his daughters and grandchildren. Did I mention that he also ran for Parliament ... twice?

To listen to some of Jay Cooper’s songs, go to http://slitherproductions.com/JayCooperPage 47