Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

ha_ha_charade_you_are · 06-23-2006 06:49 PM

Sad News indeed.

Claydes Charles Smith, a co-founder and lead guitarist of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 57.

Smith died in Maplewood, N.J., on Tuesday after a long illness, publicist David Brokaw said Thursday. Brokaw did not know the cause of death.

"We've lost a member of our family, as well as an infinitely creative and gifted artist who was with the band from the very beginning," band manager Tia Sinclair said in a statement.

Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. After a downturn, the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the '80s.

Smith, who was known as Charles Smith, wrote the hits "Joanna" and "Take My Heart," and was a co-writer of others, including "Celebration," "Hollywood Swinging" and "Jungle Boogie."

Born on Sept. 6, 1948, in Jersey City, N.J., he was introduced to jazz guitar by his father in the early 1960s.

Later in that decade he was in a group of New Jersey jazz musicians, including Ronald Bell (later Khalis Bayyan), Robert "Kool" Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas and Robert "Spike" Mickens, who became Kool & the Gang. Other members would include lead singer James "JT" Taylor.

Illness forced Smith to stop touring with the group in January.

Smith is survived by his six children, Claydes A. Smith, Justin Smith, Aaron Corbin, August Williams, Uranus Guray and Tyteen Humes, and nine grandchildren.

Possibly Related

Morglor9 · 06-23-2006 07:55 PM

Man, that is sad, though the only Kool & The Gang song that i know is Jungle Boogie. It is damn cool, and works very well in the openning credits of Pulp Fiction.

Echoes73 · 06-24-2006 05:36 AM

kool and the gang=disco
disco=crap

~~pointmeatthesky~~ · 06-24-2006 05:40 PM

Echoes73 Wrote:I'm an idiot

Yeah, see, you may think disco is crap, but don't go about putting down someone in a thread announcing there passing.

That's just lowness.

Radio Slaver · 06-24-2006 06:59 PM

If I were to define them, it would be closest to Funk, not Disco.

Echoes73 · 06-25-2006 07:28 AM

pointmeatthesky Wrote:
Echoes73 Wrote:I'm an idiot
Yeah, see, you may think disco is crap, but don't go about putting down someone in a thread announcing there passing.

That's just lowness.

does my post say anything about putting down the guitarist, NO. i put down the band in which he participated in.

Jumpy · 06-26-2006 11:10 AM

"Jungle Boogie" is an awesome song.

I especially appreciate it at wedding receptions.

sea green queen · 06-26-2006 04:32 PM

Jumpy Wrote:"Jungle Boogie" is an awesome song.

I especially appreciate it at wedding receptions.

That and Play That Funky Music, White Boy is another good one.

~~Stumpy Floyd~~ · 06-27-2006 05:31 PM

Radio Slaver Wrote:If I were to define them, it would be closest to Funk, not Disco.

indeed, i would definitely call them funk rather than disco... this is a real drag...

SpitfireMkV · 06-28-2006 04:32 PM

This is truly a sad day in music's history. truly a sad day

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread:		Author	Replies:	Views:	Last Post
	The "best" Egyptian guitarist	Joe	2	327	06-01-2011 03:42 PM Last Post: silverpot
	Another rocker dies	sea green queen	17	561	05-21-2010 02:06 PM Last Post: FlashTheReadiesWotsUhTheDeal
	MICHAEL JACKSON DIES!	Dyolf	59	3,222	07-06-2009 09:38 AM Last Post: cevor
	Baby dies after being left alone in car. - This really pisses me off.	FelicityKendall'sUnderwear	38	1,992	07-05-2009 02:40 PM Last Post: bklynFLOYDgirl
	Guitarist vs. Guitarist - Who is your guitar hero!	JudgeWorm94	32	1,899	04-30-2009 10:16 AM Last Post: Pink Flow

Threaded Mode \| Linear Mode Kool & the Gang guitarist dies at 57
Author	Message