Ronald Bell (musician)

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For other people with the same name, see Ronald Bell.
Ronald Bell
File:Ronald bell k&TG.jpg
Bell in 2019
Background information
Birth name Ronald Nathan Bell
Also known as Khalis Bayyan
Born (1951-11-01)November 1, 1951
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Origin West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Died Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
United States Virgin Islands
Genres Classical, jazz, funk, R&B
Occupation(s) Composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer
Instruments Saxophone, vocals
Years active 1964–2020
Associated acts Kool & the Gang

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 80s, 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]

Early life

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]

Musical career

Ronald Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music.[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]

Personal life and death

Bell was Muslim, and 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.[18]

Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on September 9, 2020, at age 68.[19] No cause was given, but the death was described as sudden.[20]

See also

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ Bush, John. Biography of Kool & the Gang at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Ronald Bell at AllMusic
  5. ↑ Classical Music entry for Ronald Bell at AllMusic
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ McFaul, Lauren. "Kool's gang freshens rock with funk", The Spokesman-Review, June 3, 1985. Retrieved October 25, 2015. "Ronald Bell has a studio in his West Orange, N.J., home and from there has worked on production for Kool & the Gang's last six albums."
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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