Local Musician Wants To Give Back to the Community
September 1, 2006 -- PoolesvilleOnline.com By Ray Hoewing
The question for this article, dear reader, is how a computer software professional who, in one way or the other has been associated with music for his entire life and thinks of that association as resulting in “everything I have in my life,” can find happiness. For Poolesville acoustic guitarist, Doug Bell, the formula has been pretty simple: He pursues his chosen career field with zest and dedication and satisfies his artistic drive by gratis performances before community and charitable events.
Doug grew up in a family where performing arts were a continuous part of his environment. His mother directed a church choir for 35 years and sang with background choral groups for hit movies such as “Singing in the Rain” in 1952; an uncle was a professional in sound editing, winning several Academy Awards; his maternal grandparents were involved in vaudeville and dancing, with the grandfather actually having dancing parts in several movies including “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
In this light it may seem a bit strange that Doug’s first experience with what he calls “structured music”—a seventh grade course—was not exactly promising. “I think I squeaked by with a ‘C’, maybe even a ‘D’,” he says. But it was probably inevitable that he would be bitten by the musical bug and it was only a year later that he succumbed—when he became enthralled about playing drums. His parents had the good sense to buy a set of drums and installed them in the basement: Whatever he did with them had to be easier on his parents’ ears than the cacophony of “practicing” his new passion with a ladle and any pot or pan he could get his hands on. Probably in the hope that if the entire house had to be rattled from the percussionist in the basement, it would help if there was an element of professionalism in the sounds, his mother even hired a private teacher for him for several years. This private instruction provided a basis in reading music and offered a bit of a “rock-and-roll” based formal music education.
Though his parents did not realize it at the time, this was to launch an unbroken period stretching over the next seven years when the house would fairly “rock” with, first, Doug perfecting his skills on the drums and in the teen years, Doug and high school buddies holding practice sessions for their rock and roll band.
Shortly after he left home to attend college (Salisbury State) he began teaching himself to play the guitar and piano. It wasn’t because he lost his enthusiasm for drums (he still loves to play them), it was a matter of practicality. “Practicing drums did not seem an ideal way to gain popularity in the dorm", he observes wryly. Though he doesn’t say so, he obviously had a great touch with the guitar and before too long was playing at coffee houses and eventually at various restaurants and nightclubs. After the Salisbury years he hooked up with a friend, Dave Pugh - they called themselves “Modern Times” - and they worked together for three years, booking dates at various nightclubs and leading restaurants, from Annapolis to Rehoboth He notes with a grin that the fees from playing at Dewey Beach’s “Grotto Pizza” financed most of the expense of securing a B.S. in Information Systems Management at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. (He has a particularly soft spot in his heart for the pizza shop’s owner, Dominick Pulieri.)
By 1986 Doug was married, having met his wife Kathy at one of his performances. Going forward, he was focused on his marriage, career and enjoying music. Doug heard about something called “Poolesville Day,” learned that musical entertainment was part of the fare for the big day and volunteered to play. He enjoyed that experience and thinks he has missed playing at only one Poolesville Day over the ensuing years.
The first Poolesville Day performance stimulated Doug to look for other community and charity venues in which to play. But he was not always thinking about doing it for money. Why, he was asked. Actually, it is for a blend of selfish and altruistic motives. “After all, it’s a lot of fun for me,” he says. But the real kicker for him is, “I can do something that benefits a lot of people.” He notes with pride being part of two community efforts this summer that raised huge amounts of money for good causes—Poolesville Relay for Life and Swim for Sarah.
Offering to perform for free does not mean that Doug approaches his performances casually. “I want to feel proud of what I do,” he says quietly. That means keeping his sound system state of the art, a lot of practicing, selecting the musical pieces that fit the occasion, arriving early to set up his equipment. That he is fastidious about his preparation is apparent to the groups for whom he performs. It is no accident that he has been asked by a half dozen groups to perform this summer alone.
Doug describes his music as “Music You Love to Hear,” music that you might hear on vacation in your favorite tiki bar, much of it vintage 70s and 80s rock—most of it popularized by well-known artists. As the lone performer of course he has to choose his selections carefully, pieces that will sound complete even when only one instrument is being played and a single person is singing the lyrics.
Doug and Kathy have two children, Sarah age 19 and “DJ” age 15. “We love the community,” Doug says. “We would like to live here in Poolesville forever.”
For the Love of Music
(Excerpt) August 31, 2007 -- The Monocacy Monocle
By Dominique Agnew
What is the best part of Poolesville Day? The little kids would say it's the fun games in Whalen Commons. Some slightly older kids would say they enjoy watching high school teachers get dunked (repeatedly). Maybe it's the great food, the artisans with their wares, or the book sale at the library. One thing you can't overlook at Poolesville Day, no matter where you are, is the amazing variety and quality of music. This year, it will only be better: more bands, more "stages," and an amazing, internationally-renowned musician to bring down the house at the end of the day.
This year we'll be happy to see some familiar faces of years past, a few faces have disguised themselves behind a new name, and we'll be graced with the presence of some new musicians and their brand of musical creativity.
The first of the familiar faces has to be named before the others. With this being his twelfth Poolesville Day appearance, Doug Bell is well-known through the area. Although he's a professional musician, he contributes so much to so many charitable organization in the area by performing at no charge. His blend of songs by artists such as Jimmy Buffet, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and the Beatles is loved by all and happily anticipated. From his appearances on the Sunday evening stage in the summer to the Swim for Sarah fundraisers to Poolesville's Relay for Life (and so many more groups), Doug has been instrumental in helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years …
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