Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell (1951-2001)

Subject: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: Kim C
Date: 01 May 01 - 01:13 PM

Probably none of you ever heard of Argyle Bell. He wasn't famous, but was well-known around Nashville. He was a pedal steel player, and a lover of Irish music. I found out just yesterday that Argyle died a couple of weeks ago, apparently by suicide. Details are sketchy and most of what I have been told is 3rd hand information.

Argyle was 50 years old. I didn't know him well, but I'd run into him once in awhile, and he was always very pleasant to me. As one of my friends put it, "he was a gentle guy and lived for music."

I'll miss him.

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 May 01 - 05:49 PM

Kim, that is too bad. I am sorry to hear we've lost another. For those of us who didn't know about him, here is a short bit: ARGYLE BELL.

Thanks for sharing with us, Kim.

kat

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: Gypsy
Date: 01 May 01 - 10:55 PM

I am always saddened for those left behind by suicide. Such a shame that a so very talented person had so much pain.

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: Kim C
Date: 02 May 01 - 10:40 AM

Kat --- where on earth did you find that!!!!! Thanks for posting it.

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: GUEST,buenos aires argentina
Date: 18 Dec 01 - 07:20 PM

my name is sergio cameli and i was a friend of argyle. i´m in shock by his death and i´m very sad. on 1998 he was in my house in buenos aires with my family. my mail is [e-mail] tk I´ll miss you country music brother

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Dec 01 - 07:46 PM

Sergio, welcome to the Mudcat. I am sorry you had to learn of such sad news. Thanks for posting about your friend.

We have one member, Escamillo, who is also from Argentina, but he hasn't been posting much, lately.

I hope you will come again and join us at the Mudcat.

All the best,

kat

P.S. Kim, I cannot remember where I found that and I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier.:-) It was probably on google.

Subject: RE: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 07:31 PM

It appears to be a Finnish site.

Subject: RE: OBIT: In Memory of Argyle Bell
From: GUEST,Jan of NC
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 06:57 PM

Ok, so I knew Argyle in 1978 in Seattle. I last talked with him in the late 1990's. After recently traveling through Nashville, I thought of him and looked him up via internet and was shocked to hear of his death. I have a picture of him, myself, and my 4 year old son at the time, taken at one of those picture booths. He took me to see Emmy Lou Harris and pulled out several pics just in case they might need a steel player!! The news of his death has haunted me. Argyle was "good people". If anyone is interested in the picture I have please let me know as I would be happy to share it. Jan

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST,Bonnie Thompson Fitzgerald
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 04:16 PM

My name is Bonnie Thompson /Fitzgerald Wow Argyle and I wrote letters back and forth for many years after he left Seattle, He played in my Mom's band Shirley and the Cottonwoods, I loved that man and finally came to Nashville in umm I am guessing 1980s for my Christmas Vacation, I stayed at his little crib (loved it) He showed me the town that is for sure! I am sorry that so much time has gone by, but I could not stop thinking about him the other day so I went to the web to look him up and surprise him, well the surprise is on me. Shame on me for not looking him up sooner. He never seems sad to me? I hope to find out where his resting place is and stop by someday and send some flowers in the meantime. Oh my dear friend. Smile down on me and let me know you are ok. xxox someone please tell me where he rests. [e-mail] or 425 644-7069

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 01:55 PM

Argyle Bell (1951-2001)

A versatile musician, an obsessive fan and archivist, and a mainstay of the Nashville music scene for two decades, the late Argyle Bell was a gifted original. The lanky Tacoma, Wash., native cut a striking figure walking around town in his head-to-toe black outfits, his wraparound shades, muttonchop sideburns, and teased-out coif. "I never saw Argyle in a car," remembers Adam Dread, who hosted him on his mid-'80s WRVU radio show. "He was always walking, always smiling." Bell brightened staid Music City by flashing his own brand of rock-star glitz, especially after becoming a denizen of the erstwhile hipster haven Close Quarters (now the Bound'ry). He claimed he once got loaded with Jim Morrison and saw the Velvet Underground play with Nico, but it was his own accomplishments that endeared him to friends and fellow musicians. He put together the first Gram Parsons tribute show, wrote now and then for The Metro, and gigged (word has it) with everyone from Garth Brooks to members of the Burritos, Byrds, Eagles, and Rolling Stones. And as the former "musical director" at Séanachie, he did as much as anyone to boost the city's emerging Irish music scene. Most importantly, Bell was a great guy, generous to a fault with his money, time, and encouragement. That made his lonely death even sadder. On Easter weekend, in a friend's van, the man who befriended and supported so many people ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Longtime friend Greg Walker said Bell was distraught over financial woes as well as the local music scene, of which he had grown to feel less and less a part. He had just turned 50. On April 30, some 200 friends gathered at Sherlock Holmes Pub to toast Bell and raise money to put a headstone on his grave. At 8 p.m. Saturday, the pub will host a musical tribute billed as "Plaid Grass: An Evening Celebrating the Life and Music of Argyle Bell." To contribute to the Argyle Bell Memorial Fund, contact [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 07:38 PM

I believe the information posted by a Guest at 17 Jul 14 - 01:55 PM came from this source: http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/plaid-grass-an-evening-celebrating-the-life-and-music-of-argyle-bell-saturday-512/Conten

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 07:42 PM

Sorry- link maker ran out of room. Here's the complete link address:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/plaid-grass-an-evening-celebrating-the-life-and-music-of-argyle-bell-saturday-512/Content?oid=1185607

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 14 - 05:15 PM

can someone tell me where his is burried? I would like to visit. I called many of the cemeterys around there and no one could help me.
Bonnie Thompson Fitzgerald [e-mail] thanks

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 15 - 10:57 PM

I lived in Nashville in 1983 and Argyle was a friend, though we lost track of each other when I moved home to Louisiana again. Because he loved Irish music and I was a Scottish descent - we got on and we were both trying to do something "different" in Nashville. He hung out with me, Jim Hager, Marcia Beverly and others in our gang and was always excited and fun. I am sorry I lost touch with him and sorry he's passed on. Dudley-Brian Smith, Smithfield Fair.

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 15 - 10:57 PM

I lived in Nashville in 1983 and Argyle was a friend, though we lost track of each other when I moved home to Louisiana again. Because he loved Irish music and I was a Scottish descent - we got on and we were both trying to do something "different" in Nashville. He hung out with me, Jim Hager, Marcia Beverly and others in our gang and was always excited and fun. I am sorry I lost touch with him and sorry he's passed on. Dudley-Brian Smith, Smithfield Fair.

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST,Irish Guest
Date: 01 Jul 18 - 06:29 PM

Hi there! I lived in Nashville for over twenty years, and got to know Argyll very well. Like many of the characters who frequented the Sherlock Holmes, he was unique to say the least. My favourite memory of him was his ready smile and sense of humour. ( Here's lookin' at you man! ....Hope you bumped into Dusty Springfield up above! )

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 05:07 PM

I was just thinking about Argyle today and trying to find that tribute online that his friend Greg Walker wrote about him. I read it years ago and Greg did such a good job writing that. Anyway I used to work at a local hipster store in Nashville where Argyle was a regular, and one day around March or April of 2001 Argyle brought us in a few music related things of his to sell. We bought most of it but a couple of things we had to pass on because of copyright issues, but these items were very cool. Argyle handed them back to me, and with his normal smile said, "please keep these for yourself and enjoy them; I'm not going to be needing them". I thanked him and thought nothing of that comment until I heard the news of his passing. I was very saddened, because I realized from his "I won't be needing them" comment that he was already thinking about ending his life. I still miss Argyle and think about him to this very day.

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 05:43 PM

I met him here in Michigan when he was involved with the folk band "Limerick Rakes" He seemed like a nice man from our brief meeting..the "Rakes" was more than good name for that lot..it ended in disaster.....

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell 1951-2001
From: GUEST,Lonnie Rowland
Date: 18 Jan 20 - 11:43 PM

Shocked to hear this. I‘m a drummer and I met Argyle in 1987. I was a kid on vacation from my Northern KY job trying to fulfill the dream of a music career and Argyle hired me on the spot for an upcoming Susie Devereaux tour. Although the tour got canceled, his acceptance of me helped give me the confidence to make the move to Nashville where I performed with and in various bands/shows/artists for 20 years. Argyle was very friendly and kind to me and I regret not catching up with him during my years in Nashville.

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell (1951-2001)
From: GUEST,Chris Jerome
Date: 22 Aug 20 - 11:04 PM

Argyle was a friend and mentor to me in the 90’s... I engineered and played many instruments on his last album ...ironically titled “More Dead than Alive”...he was a good friend, almost a brother....I think of him often....

Subject: RE: Obit: In Memory of Argyle Bell (1951-2001)
From: GUEST,Toni
Date: 01 Jun 21 - 01:26 PM

I cannot believe it,20 years after the fact ,I found out about Argyle. I m so saddened. We hung out back in the early to late 80 's in Nashville. I met him when I was bartending at 3rd Coast. He was so fun ,so encouraging. He called me the hippest chick in Nashville, I wasn't but he knew how to lift a person 's confidence and self esteem. He was generous like that. I lost to check with him by the 90 's and I m so sorry I did. I recently have been in touch with old mutual friends and they told me about Argyle. I wish I had not lost touch.