Larry Bell
1944 - 2015
Larry Bell, 70, of Tulsa Oklahoma died on April 6, 2015, just before midnight. He lived in Tulsa most of his life. He was a well known professional musician. He was known for his soulful singing and keyboard work. Larry was influenced by J.J. Cale, Ray Charles, Al Green, Nat King Cole and Leon Russell. Many consider him to be an integral part of the "Tulsa Sound." When it came to the "Tulsa Sound," he believed that musically- less is more. Besides being a studio musician, he performed with J.J. Cale, Leon Russell, Gary Lewis & The Playboys,The Bop Cats and more.
Larry passed away peacefully - right before midnight at home after a short illness and made it to heaven just in time to play "After Midnight" with all his heroes.
Besides being known for his musical abilities, Larry was known for his warmth and acceptance of everyone. Larry was a prankster and ornery! He tried to bring humor into everyday life to all who met him. To know Larry was to love him. He had endearing pet names for everyone. Larry worked for The Music Store family. They were indeed his family too. Besides music being his calling, he worked for and retired from Tulsa Public Schools. There, he was known for wearing crazy socks, Hollywood scarves and loved his school family. Larry belonged to everyone's family and he loved everyone so much. He treasured being in San Francisco, the mountains of Colorado with his relatives and at home on his couch watching his Sony T. V. with his wife and his dog, Bonnie Bell.
As Jenny says, "he was the love of my life and our life together was so much fun".
He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 40 years, Jenny Tanner Bell, his twin daughters, Shala Moll (Page) and Lari Lang, the mother of his daughters, Ann Bell Nicholson, his brothers, Bob Bell (Twila) and Dan Bell (Tobin), sister-in-law, Marilyn Bell, father-in-law, John J. Tanner (Jacqueline), nephew, Case Tanner (Heather), niece, Margie Tanner, grandson Paxton and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews, and other relations of extended and blended family members.
Larry was preceded in death by his father Hillis Bell, his mother Tola (Blust) Bell, brother Hillis Bell Jr. and brother in-law David Tanner. No services are planned at this time. Please leave Condolences offered by www.moorefuneral.com . Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233