Melissa Bell (5 March 1964 – 28 August 2017) was an English singer whose work spanned soul, R&B and club music. Born in London, she became known in the 1990s as one of several lead voices for the influential British collective Soul II Soul and later led her own ensemble. She is also the mother of singer Alexandra Burke, winner of The X Factor in 2008.

Career and musical style

Bell sang in a warm, soulful style rooted in classic R&B and contemporary British soul. She joined Soul II Soul between 1993 and 1996 and featured on the single "Wish," contributing to the group's evolving sound after their early commercial peak. Her role combined lead vocal duties with the kind of backing and ensemble singing common in club-oriented soul acts of the period. The term R&B helps describe the genres she navigated.

Projects and collaborations

After leaving the collective, Bell formed her own band, Soul Explosion, in 1999 to perform live around London and on the UK circuit, blending cover material with original songs and community events. She was also active as a backing vocalist for high-profile performers and appeared alongside international stars in studio and stage contexts.

Throughout her career she worked with or supported major artists, appearing in arrangements or performances connected to figures such as Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder. These associations reflect the common path of accomplished session and backing singers who move between their own projects and larger productions.

Legacy and later life

Bell remained a familiar presence on the UK soul and club scene through small-scale touring and charity appearances. Her contribution is often remembered in relation to the extended community of British soul performers who supported and refreshed the scene after the late-1980s breakthrough of acts like Soul II Soul. She died in August 2017 after a period of illness; obituaries and tributes noted her influence on peers and her role as a parent to a successful recording artist.

  • Known single: "Wish" (with Soul II Soul).
  • Founded Soul Explosion (1999) to lead live performances and community shows.
  • Worked as a backing vocalist with well-known international artists.