Charles Bell

American jazz pianist. Not to be confused with his son, Charles "Poogie" Bell. Born in Pittsburgh. Went to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon), studied piano and composition with Nikolai Lopatnikoff. While at college, Bell founded The Charles Bell Contemporary Jazz Quartet with Chuck Leroy (vibes), Dicker Hiller (bass), and Cecil Brooks (drums). The group won the Intercollegiate Jazz Festival in 1960 and was scheduled to appear at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, which was cancelled early due to a riot. Bell also worked as an educator, teaching at Hunter College, Lehman College, and New York City public schools.