BELL RINGER: Al Bell is using the...

BELL RINGER: Al Bell is using the success his Bellmark Records has had with hits from Tag Team (“Whoomp! There It Is”) and Prince (“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”) to return to his roots.

The former head of Stax Records, the bastion of ‘60s Memphis soul, has signed original Stax artists Tyrone Davis and former Dramatics Ron Banks and L.J. Reynolds (known as 2 of a Kind), as well as R&B; guitarist Johnny (Guitar) Watson, with hopes of making their styles work in the ‘90s.

He’s got a head start: These artists have been sampled regularly by Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Ice Cube. Snoop also named the Dramatics as his favorite group and had Banks and Reynolds guest on his song “It’s a Doggy Dogg World.”

Says Bell: “This is an opportunity to preserve the music of our culture.”