Ronald Bell, later Khalis Bayyan, a co-founder of Kool & the Gang who co-wrote most of their biggest hits, died this week, age 68, at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The band he and his younger brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, started as teenagers cycled through many musical styles over the years, from jazz to funk to disco to soul, and sold 70 million records doing it, making their omission from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rather puzzling. They were among funk’s finest bands in the ’70s, then successful hitmakers in the ’80s, so what’s the argument for keeping them out?
Their biggest hit, “Celebration,” is a special-occasion staple for DJs, but they were at their best with the funky stuff, as they show with this appearance on “Soul Train.” “Jungle Boogie” was one of three top-10 hits on their 1973 LP, “Wild and Peaceful.” That’s Ronald on tenor sax, with Kool on bass.
