Musical News - Ronald Bell (Kool & the Gang)

Ronald Nathan Bell, co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died suddenly on September 9, 2020 at the age of 68. He was a composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer who (along with his brother Robert “Kool” Bell) was introduced to jazz at the age of five.

Ronald composed some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Celebration” (1980), “Cherish” (1985), “Jungle Boogie” (1973) and “Summer Madness” (1974.

The group won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever” and was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kool & the Gang was one of our all-time favorite groups, and I am sure Celebration is still being played, somewhere in the world.

Ronald “Khalis” Bell (November 1, 1951 – September 9, 2020) © 09/10/2020