| Ronald Bell | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Alias: | Khalis Bayyan |
| Birth Name: | Ronald Nathan Bell |
| Birth Date: | 1 November 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Place: | 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, 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".[1] The group is honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[2]
Bell was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Aminah Bayyan (1932–2014) and Robert "Bobby" Bell (1929–1985). His father was a professional boxer and Golden Gloves amateur boxing winner.[3] Training in Elwood, New York, he hung out with jazz players and became friends with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk,[4] [5] who lived in the same apartment building as the elder Bell.[4] [6]
Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, were introduced to jazz at around five or six.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
Ronald Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music in Kool and the Gang's body of work.[10] 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".[11] He said his favorite song was "Celebration", which he wrote after reading a passage in the Quran.[12]
Bell converted to Islam in 1972, initially joining The Nation of Islam. He was given the name Khalis Bayyan by Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.[13] He was married to Tia Sinclair Bell and had 10 children.[14] 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".[15] [16]
Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on September 9, 2020, at age 68.[17] No cause was given but the death was described as sudden.[18]
| 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 | ||
| 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)" |