Ronald Bell

• Name — Ronald Bell • Alias — Khalis Bayyan • Birth Name — Ronald Nathan Bell • Born — 1 November 1951 • Birthplace — Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 9 September 2020 • Place of death — United States Virgin Islands • Origin — West Orange, New Jersey, U.S. • Genre — * Classical • jazz • funk • R&B • Occupation — * Composer • singer • songwriter • arranger • producer • Instrument — * Saxophone • vocals • Years Active — 1964–2020 • Past Member Of — 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 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] and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[4]

Bell was born in Youngstown, Ohio,[5][6] to Aminah Bayyan (1932–2014) and Robert "Bobby" Bell (1929–1985). His father was a professional boxer and Golden Gloves amateur boxing winner.[7] Training in Elwood, New York, Bobby Bell had hung out with jazz players and became friends with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk,[8][9] who lived in the same apartment building as he did.[10] Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, were introduced to jazz at around five or six.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

Ronald Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music in Kool and the Gang's body of work.[14] 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".[15] He said his favorite song was "Celebration", which he wrote after reading a passage in the Quran.[16]

Bell converted to Islam in 1972, initially joining the Nation of Islam. He was given the name Khalis Bayyan by Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.[17] He was married to Tia Sinclair Bell and had 10 children.[18] 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".[19][20] Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on September 9, 2020, at age 68.[21] No cause was given but the death was described as sudden.[22]

• 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)"