Ronald Bell | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Ronald Nathan Bell |
Also known as | Khalis Bayyan |
Born | Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | November 1, 1951
Origin | West Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | September 9, 2020 United States Virgin Islands | (aged 68)
Genres | Classical, jazz, funk, R&B |
Occupation(s) | Composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer |
Instrument(s) | Saxophone, vocals |
Years active | 1964–2020 |
Ronald Nathan Bell (November 1, 1951 – September 9, 2020), also known as Khalis Bayyan, [1] was an American composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, saxophonist and co-founding member of Kool & the Gang. The band recorded nine No. 1 R&B singles in the 1970s and 1980s, including its No. 1 pop single " Celebration". [2] The group is honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. [3]
Bell was born in Youngstown, Ohio, [4] [5] to Aminah Bayyan (1932–2014) and Robert "Bobby" Bell (1929–1985). His father was a professional boxer and Golden Gloves amateur boxing winner. [6] Training in Elwood, New York, he hung out with jazz players and became friends with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, [7] [8] who lived in the same apartment building as the elder Bell. [7] [9]
Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, were introduced to jazz at around five or six. [10] The family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1960. In 1964, the brothers joined neighborhood friends Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a distinctive musical blend of jazz, soul, and funk. [11] At first calling themselves "The Jazziacs", the band went through various name changes—the New Dimensions, the Soul Town Band, and Kool & the Flames—before settling on Kool & the Gang in 1968. [12]
Ronald Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music in Kool and the Gang's body of work. [13] He was a self-taught musician, and his distinctive sound is on the group's horn lines, bass, synthesizer and vocals. He wrote and produced many of the Kool & the Gang's songs, including " Celebration", " Cherish", " Jungle Boogie", " Summer Madness", and " Open Sesame". [14] He said his favorite song was "Celebration", which he wrote after reading a passage in the Quran. [15]
Bell converted to Islam in 1972, initially joining The Nation of Islam. He was given the name Khalis Bayyan by Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. [16] He was married to Tia Sinclair Bell and had 10 children. [17] His son, Rachid, released his debut album in 1998, and achieved a top 40 hit on the Dance Club Songs chart with his debut single, " Pride". [18] [19]
Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on September 9, 2020, at age 68. [20] No cause was given but the death was described as sudden. [21]
Year | Album |
---|---|
1969 | Kool and the Gang |
1972 | Music Is the Message |
Good Times | |
1973 | Wild and Peaceful |
1974 | Light of Worlds |
1975 | Spirit of the Boogie |
1976 | Love & Understanding |
Open Sesame | |
1977 | The Force |
1978 | Everybody's Dancin' |
1979 | Ladies' Night |
1980 | Celebrate! |
1981 | Something Special |
1982 | As One |
1983 | In the Heart |
1984 | Emergency |
1986 | Forever |
1989 | Sweat |
1992 | Unite |
1996 | State of Affairs |
2001 | Gangland |
2004 | The Hits: Reloaded |
2007 | Still Kool |
2013 | Kool for the Holidays |
Year | Album |
---|---|
1971 | Live at the Sex Machine |
Live at PJ's | |
1998 | Greatest Hits Live |
2002 | Too Hot Live |
2010 | The Very Best-Live In Concert |
Year | Single |
---|---|
1969 | "Kool and the Gang" |
"The Gang's Back Again" (A-side) | |
"Kool's Back Again" (B-side) | |
1970 | "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)" |
"Let the Music Take Your Mind" | |
"Funky Man" | |
1971 | "Who's Gonna Take the Weight (Part One)" |
"I Want to Take You Higher" | |
"N.T. Part I" | |
1972 | "Love the Life You Live, Part I" |
"Music Is the Message (Part 1)" | |
"Funky Granny" | |
"Good Times" | |
1973 | "Country Junky" |
"Funky Stuff" | |
" Jungle Boogie" | |
1974 | " Hollywood Swinging" |
" Higher Plane" | |
"Rhyme Tyme People" | |
1975 | " Spirit of the Boogie" (A-side) |
" Summer Madness" (B-side) | |
"Caribbean Festival" | |
1976 | "Love and Understanding (Come Together)" |
"Universal Sound" | |
"Open Sesame - Part 1" | |
1977 | "Super Band" |
1978 | "Slick Superchick" |
"A Place in Space" | |
"I Like Music" | |
"Everybody's Dancin'" | |
1979 | " Ladies' Night" |
" Too Hot" | |
1980 | "Hangin' Out" |
" Celebration" | |
1981 | "Take It to the Top" |
"Jones vs. Jones" | |
" Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" | |
" Steppin' Out" | |
" Get Down on It" | |
1982 | "No Show" |
" Big Fun" | |
"Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" | |
"Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho" | |
1983 | "Street Kids" |
"Straight Ahead" | |
" Joanna" | |
1984 | "Tonight" |
"(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart" | |
" Fresh" | |
" Misled" | |
1985 | " Cherish" |
"Emergency" | |
1986 | "Victory" |
1987 | " Stone Love" |
"Holiday" | |
"Special Way" | |
"Peace Maker" | |
1988 | "Rags to Riches" |
"Strong" | |
"Celebration" (remix) | |
1989 | "Raindrops" |
"Never Give Up" | |
1991 | "Get Down on It" (remix) |
1992 | "(Jump Up on The) Rhythm and Ride" |
1996 | "Salute to the Ladies" |
2003 | " Ladies Night" (with Atomic Kitten) |
2004 | " Fresh" (with Liberty X) |
" Too Hot" (with Lisa Stansfield) | |
" Get Down on It" (with Blue & Lil' Kim) | |
2005 | " Hollywood Swinging" (with Jamiroquai) |
"No Show" (featuring Blackstreet) | |
2006 | "Steppin' into Love" |
2010 | "Miss Lead" (ft. Towanna) |
2016 | "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)" |
Ronald Five X is given the name Khalis (intelligent) by Imam Wallace D. Mohammed