Ronald Bell passed away at the age of 68.
The early morning of September 9, Ronald Bell passed away leaving a great void in the world of music.
The co-founder of Kool & The Gang has died aged 68. The cause of death was not given, but one thing is certain, Ronald “Khalis” Bell will always be recognized as a legend of music.
He died with his wife by his side at home in the US Virgin Island. He is survived by 10 children. Ronald “Khalis” Bell was a self-taught saxophonist and singer . He was born and raised in Ohio, his father was a professional boxer and was a close friend of jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. This encounter forever influenced his music and now he is known as a legend.
Bell was working on a series of collaborations including a solo endeavour, “Kool Baby Brotha Band.” He also planned to put together a series of animated shorts called “Kool TV”. The series will tell about their childhood and career.
He made Kool & The Gang in New Jersey with his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, along with neighbourhood friends Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West in 1964. The band grew in the 1960s with strong roots in jazz music and later become one of the biggest groups of the 1970s. They also blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop.
Ronald Bell wrote the group’s best-known songs such as party table Celebration, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Cherish. As many will remember, the Koll & The Gang won Grammy in 1978 as the album of the year for their work on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
They are also one of the most sampled artists of all time. Later in 2015, Kool & the Gang were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
READ MORE: