Bell & James has been played on NTS shows including Shanti Celeste, with Livin' It Up (Friday Night) first played on 21 May 2017.

Drummer/guitarist Leroy Bell met guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Casey James while both were members of Philadelphia band Special Blend. After the band disbanded, the two began a songwriting partnership. Bell's uncle was Philly soul mainstay Thom Bell, a key player at Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He signed the duo to a music publishing contract with Mighty Three Music, a company he co-owned with Gamble & Huff. Their songs were covered by Elton John(the gold number nine pop/Top 36 R&B hit "Mama Can't…