Ronald Bell Wiki – Biography
Ronald Bell was an American composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and co-founding member of Kool & the Gang. Ronald Bell and his older brother Robert “Kool” Bell joined forces with Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West in 1964 to create a unique blend of jazz, soul, and funk. The band recycled many monikers — Jazziacs, The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames – before cementing themselves as Kool & the Gang in 1969.
Ronald acted as Kool & the Gang’s chief composer and arranger on top of mastering the saxophone and keyboard. He eventually wrote the group’s first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “Celebration.” He also wrote their top 10 Hot 100 hits “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging” and “Get Down On It.” Kool & the Gang has notched a total of 25 top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
They have earned a Grammy award for album of the year with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, five American Music Awards and the BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. They’ve sold 70 million albums worldwide and earned 17 gold- and platinum-certified singles by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The Bell brothers, Brown and Kool & the Gang vocalist James “J.T.” Taylor were all inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.
At the time of his death, Bell was in the midst of a series of collaborations including his solo endeavor, “Kool Baby Brotha Band.” He was also working on “Kool TV,” a series of animated shorts about the group’s career.
Ronald Bell Age
He was born on November 1, 1951, in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. He died on September 9, 2020, in the United States Virgin Islands. He was 68 years old.
Wife
Ronald Bell was married to his wife Tia Sinclair Bell. He had 10 children Khadijah, Rasheed, Nadirah, Liza, Maryam, Aminah, Jennah, Khalis, Asia, and James.
Family
He was born to Aminah Bayyan and Robert “Bobby” Bell, a professional boxer and golden gloves amateur boxing winner.
Ronald Bell Death
Ronald Bell died on September 9, 2020, at the age of 68, at his home in the United States Virgin Islands, according to a statement from his publicist.
Cause of Death
Ronald Bell’s cause of death was not revealed.
Net Worth
Ronald Bell’s net worth was estimated to be $5 million.