Ronald Bell (musician)

American musician (1951–2020)

Ronald Nathan Bell, also known as Khalis Bayyan,[1] (November 1, 1951 – September 9, 2020) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was the co-founding member of Kool & the Gang. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio but was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. His career began in 1968.

Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music.[2] He wrote the songs "Ladies' Night" (1979) and "Celebration" (1980).

Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on September 9, 2020, at age 68.[3][4]

References change

  1. Bush, John. Biography of Kool & the Gang at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. 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."
  3. Parker, Lyndsey (September 9, 2020). "Kool & the Gang co-founder Ronald 'Khalis' Bell dead at 68". Yahoo! News. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. "Ronald 'Khalis' Bell, Kool & the Gang Co-Founder, Dies at 68". Spin.com. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.