Biography & Career
Poogie Bell is a world renowned drummer, composer, arranger, and record producer.
He has performed and recorded with Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Erykah Badu, David Bowie, John Scofield, David Sanborn, Angelique Kidjo, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Vanessa Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Victor Wooten, Randy Crawford, and many more.
Poogie co-wrote with Victor Bailey “Touch and Go” the title track of Force MD’s debut album that won the ASCAP Urban Music Writers award for Top 10 Singles in 1998.
Poogie began his professional career playing with Tom Brown, Weldon Irvine and then Hugh Masakela. He then toured with one of the creators of hip-hop, Afrika Bambaata and the Soulsonic Force. Working in traditional R&B Poogie toured with Freddie Jackson, Phyllis Hyman and Chaka Khan.
In 1987 he worked with Force MDs, a Temptations-style vocal group who were the first to incorporate R&B and hip-hop. Poogie co-wrote & produced the title track of their hit CD “Touch and Go”.
He has spent the next 25 years collaborating with some of Jazz, hip-hop’s and R&B’s heaviest hitters including Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke Keith Sweat, SWV, New Edition and Erykah Badu.
He now leads the Poogie Bell Band. who have released 6 albums and continues to tour and produce.
In 2018 Poogie was invited to tour China playing drum clinics and Masterclasses which he found incredibly rewarding and has been invited back in 2019.
Hardware & Setup
Drums
Ludwig Keystone X Yellow Glitter
14x20 Bass Drum
9x13 Tom Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
LB417 6.5x14 Black Beauty