New topic
Printable| Author | Message |
Charles Smith of Kool & The Gang: RIP *post here* Charles Smith, 57, Guitarist for Kool and the Gang BY STEPHEN MILLER - Staff Reporter of the Sun June 23, 2006 Charles Smith, who died Tuesday at 57 in Maplewood, N.J., was the guitarist for Kool and the Gang for more than 35 years, from its beginning as a high school band called the Jazziacs to the 1980s when it released chart-topping hits like "Celebration." As recently as last January, Smith toured with the band, which is one of the longest-running acts in popular music. In addition to "Celebration" (1980) Kool and the Gang scored hits with "Jungle Boogie" (1974), "Ladies Night" (1979),"Take My Heart" (1981), and "Joanna" (1983), the latter two written by Smith. Smith, and the six other original members of the band,grew up in Jersey City. Jazz was the music they grew up with, and when Smith joined Robert "Kool" Bell and his brother Ronald, who played bass and saxophone, in 1966, they formed a jazz ensemble. As they began to get work backing up singers sporting the Motown sound, the band changed its name to the Soul Town Band and the Soul Train Review. Their penultimate moniker was Kool and the Flames, which a record executive apparently modified when the band was first signed, in 1968, to prevent confusion with James Brown's Famous Flames. Kool and the Gang was an instrumental funk band that sported a fat bass groove under jazzy guitar playing, as typified by "Jungle Boogie," its first big hit. It was raw funk, a much wilder sound than the polished disco- and R&B-influenced pop that would become the stuff of their 1980s hits. The Bell brothers joined the Nation of Islam in the early 1970s, changing their names to Ronald Five X and Robert Nine X, known on record sleeves as Khalis and Muhammed Bayyan; Smith modified his name as well, changing his given name Claydes to Charles, apparently to avoid drawing attention to himself on lists of credits. In 1979, Kool and the Gang retooled, hiring a proper lead vocalist and big-name producers. The result was a string of hits, including "Ladies Night" and "Celebration," a song that achieved a worldwide popularity far out of proportion to anything else the band recorded. Aside from minor personnel changes, Kool and the Gang's lineup remained fairly constant over the decades. While hits became scarce after the mid-1980s, the band continued to tour and experienced something of a revival when hip-hop artists began to sample its grooves extensively. In recent years, still touring, the band found its most enthusiastic customers to be corporate functions and casinos. Claydes Charles Smith Born September 6, 1948, in Jersey City, N.J.; died June 20 after a long illness in Maplewood, N.J.; survived by six children, Claydes Smith, Justin Smith, Aaron Corbin, August Williams, Uranus Guray, Tyteen Humes, and nine grandchildren. "The first time I saw the cover of Dirty Mind in the early 80s I thought, 'Is this some drag queen ripping on Freddie Prinze?'" - Some guy on The Gear Page | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
Sad.  I didn't realize he'd been with them the whole time. That's an incredibly long time - 35 years?! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
  .liked me some Kool & The Gang
i got their greatest hits on c.d. [Edited 6/23/06 7:26am] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
...
He was just mentioned in the "Dynamic Duos - bass and guitar" thread a few days ago...Rest in Peace, Charles..... ... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Sad. Too many people are dying.. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
A TRUE FUNK LEGEND!!!!! Rest in "funky" peace..... | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I love the guitar solo on "Summer Madness" during one of their concert from the 80's.
 Man, it's gonna be weird watching them perform now without the big fellow.I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I gotta make sure I play some Kool & The Gang at my DJ gig tonite.....I'll have to dig DEEP & play "Sea Of Tranquility". Do a perfect blend w/"Send It On" by D'Angelo since that's where HE got the WHOLE TRACK FROM.....trust me, IT'S SEAMLESS!!!!! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RIP Mr. Smith . | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren... 
It's also a terrible blow to one of the greatest funk (and more) bands of all time. 
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Man. I'm sitting her thinking about all those funky K&TG guitar lines. The funky breakdown on Jungle Boogie, That smooth George Benson like groove on Too Hot, The Steel Guitar like licks on Joanna and Celebration. And those Nasty licks on "Hollywood Swinging". Charles Smith may be one of the best guitarists a lot of people may never have heard of. R.I.P. Condolences to his family. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
ThePunisher said: Man. I'm sitting her thinking about all those funky K&TG guitar lines. The funky breakdown on Jungle Boogie, That smooth George Benson like groove on Too Hot, The Steel Guitar like licks on Joanna and Celebration. And those Nasty licks on "Hollywood Swinging". Charles Smith may be one of the best guitarists a lot of people may never have heard of. R.I.P. Condolences to his family.
WORD!!!!! Also the breakdown at the end of "Sea Of Tranquility.....DAMN!!!!! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RIP  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RipHer2Shreds said: Sad.
I didn't realize he'd been with them the whole time. That's an incredibly long time - 35 years?! Sure is. RIP Charles Smith. RIP, mom. I will forever miss and love you. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Thanks for the great music over the years.
R.I.P. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
R.I.P Charles Smith...I grew up listening to his music. " I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?" | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
we are losing everyone,damn shame rip Charles | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Finess said: we are losing everyone,damn shame rip Charles
And...Who's Gonna Take The Weight? 
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |