Hidden Figures: Tina Bell #BlackHERstoryMonth 2/28 (Patreon)

Hidden Figures: Tina Bell #BlackHERstoryMonth 2/28

If you enjoy my work, please consider supporting! CashApp: $SerenSensei Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seren_sensei All Patrons get access to the Discord server! NEW MERCH SHOP: https://the-bheezebake-project.creator-spring.com Tina Marie Bell (February 5, 1957 – d. October 10, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter and frontwoman of the Seattle-based grunge group Bam Bam. The band is considered one of the founders of the grunge music scene, & Bell has been called the "Godmother of Grunge". Bell was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. When looking for a tutor so that she could sing French lyrics in a play, she met guitarist Tommy Martin, who answered her ad in the paper. Bell and Martin married and formed a band called Bam Bam - a portmanteau of their surnames, ‘Bell And Martin’- in 1983. The band also included bassist Scott Ledgerwood and drummer Matt Cameron, who would later go on to achieve fame as a member of Soundgarden and then Pearl Jam. Charismatic and with a smoky voice known for its distinctive ‘sludge’ sound, Bell and the band became very popular. Her voice, energy, and brooding subject matter over driving baselines are considered foundational to the grunge genre. Many fans of Bam Bam went on to join influential Seattle bands, including a young Kurt Cobain, who was an avid early supporter of the group. However, Bam Bam was not received well by the media, which preferred to follow the white male fronted bands, and was left entirely out of coverage of the up and coming grunge scene. Bam Bam independently released their first EP, called 'Villains (Also Wear White)' in 1984; it was the first grunge record made at Reciprocal Recording studio, the location where Nirvana later made their famous demos for the 'Bleach' and 'Incesticide' albums. Later that year, Bam Bam released the album 'Bam Bam House Demo '84.' But mid-1980's lineup changes shook the band, with Bell having trouble garnering respect from subsequent bandmates. She refused to leave, and in the late 80's, Bam Bam performed in concerts with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. But after continuing to not receive recognition for their groundbreaking work, Bam Bam left Seattle for London, hoping for success in Europe. Unfortunately, they did not find crossover success overseas, and were deported back to America from the Netherlands. Bell left Bam Bam in 1990, and eventually quit music entirely. Bell filed for divorce from Martin in 1996, eventually moving into an assisted living facility. She died in her Las Vegas apartment at age 55 on October 10, 2012; she had been working on new music with Ledgerwood before her death, and planning a reunion of the original Bam Bam members. Never before heard tracks recorded by Bam Bam for 'Villains' were released in 2019, on their second album, 'Free Fall From Space.' #TinaBell #HiddenFigures ****************** Merchandise! MAKE SURE U GETTA SHIRT!! https://www.teepublic.com/user/sssseren https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/theblackamericans https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/dacs?rq=d.a.c.s Follow me on social media! Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu Personal Tumblr: http://sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com Tumblr for my work: https://sssseren.tumblr.com Snapchat: sssseren GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/tc5wh7q ****************** Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture' Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6 Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6 Digital download (e-book): https://gumroad.com/l/IkUa ****************** Links: 'TINA BELL’S HIDDEN LEGACY: THE BLACK WOMAN WHO CREATED THE SOUND OF GRUNGE:' https://pleasekillme.com/bam-bam-tina-bell/ 'Pioneer Report: Scotty “Buttocks” Ledgerwood of Bam Bam Sets The Crown Straight On Grunge Queen TINA BELL:' https://theculturerockgriot.wordpress.com/2021/02/05/pioneer-report-scotty-buttocks-ledgerwood-of-bam-bam-sets-the-crown-straight-on-grunge-queen-tina-bell/ 'The Black ‘Godmother of Grunge’ Who Inspired Your Fav Bands:' https://zora.medium.com/the-black-mother-of-grunge-who-inspired-nirvana-95886f21eccc 'Before Nirvana or Pearl Jam, there was Tina Bell, the godmother of grunge:' https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/before-nirvana-or-pearl-jam-there-was-tina-bell-the-black-godmother-of-grunge-musicians-pay-tribute-in-upcoming-concert/ 'Tina Bell: Unsung Goddess of Grunge:' https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2021/3/2/tina-bell-unsung-goddess-grunge/ 'Who Was Rocker Tina Bell? And Why It Matters:' https://americansongwriter.com/who-was-rocker-tina-bell-and-why-it-matters/ 'The Two Tinas: Filmmaker TJ Martin on His New HBO Tina Turner Documentary, and His Mom, the "Goddess of Grunge:" https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/04/06/32667294/the-two-tinas-filmmaker-tj-martin-on-his-new-hbo-tina-turner-documentary-and-his-mom-the-goddess-of-grunge