Ronald ‘Khalis’ Bell, who co-founded the group Kool & The Gang in 1964, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday at the age of 68. According to a statement from his publisher, the musician died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it reports Spin. A direct cause of death was not given.
Bell founded the successful band together with his brother Robert ‘Kool’ Bell and Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith. Kool & The Gang combined funk and soul with r & b and pop and scored hits worldwide.
The musician was behind famous songs such as Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie in Open Sesame. In 2015 the group was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2014 the group performed at the then Heineken Music Hall.
Bell had ten children in his lifetime and lived with his wife in the US Virgin Islands. The musician is buried in a closed circle.
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