Ronald Bell (musician)

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]

For other people with the same name, see Ronald Bell.

Ronald Bell
Bell in 2019
Background information
Birth nameRonald Nathan Bell
Also known asKhalis Bayyan
Born(1951-11-01)November 1, 1951
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
OriginWest Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2020(2020-09-09) (aged 68)
United States Virgin Islands
GenresClassical, jazz, funk, R&B
Occupation(s)Composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer
InstrumentsSaxophone, vocals
Years active1968–2020
Associated actsKool & the Gang

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
  1. Bush, John. Biography of Kool & the Gang at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. Freedman, Richard (February 21, 2019). "Bells haven't cracked after 52 years of 'Kool'". Vallejo Times Herald. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  3. Savage, Mark (September 10, 2020). "Ronald Bell: Kool & The Gang founder dies aged 68". BBC.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  4. Ronald Bell at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  5. Classical Music entry for Ronald Bell at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  6. "Bobby Bell - BoxRec". Boxrec.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  7. "Kool & the Gang headline CelebrateErie on Saturday". Erie Times-News. August 13, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  8. Norment, Lynn (November 1986). "Kool & The Gang: Hottest Group of the 80s". Ebony. Vol. 42 no. 1. pp. 70–76. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  9. "Robert "Kool" Bell: The Current Q & A". San Antonio Current. June 20, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  10. Lynch, Joe (February 21, 2019). "Kool & the Gang Look Back on 50 Years of Funk". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  11. "Kool & the Gang celebrate (good times, come on!) Hollywood Walk of Fame star". Los Angeles Daily News. October 8, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  12. Maile, Kelly (June 27, 2013). "Music Legends Kool and The Gang join Kid Rock tour, coming to Blossom Music Center". Record-Courier. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  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. "RONALD "KHALIS" BELL". SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  15. Aidi, Hisham (December 9, 2014). "Did Coltrane say 'Allah Supreme'?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  16. "J.T. TAYLOR – KOOL & THE GANG". Iconartistagency.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019. Ronald Five X is given the name Khalis (intelligent) by Imam Wallace D. Mohammed
  17. Alexander, Bryan (September 9, 2020). "Ronald 'Khalis' Bell, Kool & the Gang co-founder and 'Celebration' songwriter, dies at 68". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Ganett Company. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  18. Ratliff, Ben (December 14, 1998). "Not One More for the Road". The New York TImes. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  19. Parker, Lyndsey (September 9, 2020). "Kool & the Gang co-founder Ronald 'Khalis' Bell dead at 68". Yahoo! News. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  20. "Ronald 'Khalis' Bell, Kool & the Gang Co-Founder, Dies at 68". Spin.com. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
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