Archie Bell And The Drells

Archie Bell and The Drells | Northern Soul Train | tc381

Archie Bell and The Drells were a Houston group who formed in 1966. Their first sides were recorded for Ovide Records of Houston, and were backed by the group the TSU Toronadoes. Among the titles recorded in their original sessions were “She’s my woman” (licenced to Chess) and “Tighten Up” (issued on Atlantic). The group line up was Archie Bell, James Wise, Willie Parnell and Billy Butler.

The original line up:

Archie Lee Bell was born in Henderson, Texas on September 1, 1944.

James Wise was born on 1 May 1948.

Willie Parnell was born in Houston, Texas on 12 April 1945.

Billy Butler, no information available; the jazz guitarist Billy Butler and the soul singer Billy Butler, brother of Jerry Butler, are two different people.

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