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Kool & the Gang guitarist dies at 57
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ha_ha_charade_you_are Offline
Obscured By Clouds

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Post: #1
 
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.
06-23-2006 06:49 PM
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Morglor9 Offline
The Wall

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Post: #2
 
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.

Hitting Bottom Isn't A Weekend Retreat.
06-23-2006 07:55 PM
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Echoes73 Offline
Dark Side of the Moon

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Post: #3
 
kool and the gang=disco
disco=crap
06-24-2006 05:36 AM
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pointmeatthesky Offline
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Post: #4
 
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.
06-24-2006 05:40 PM
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Radio Slaver Away
Dark Side of the Moon

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Post: #5
 
If I were to define them, it would be closest to Funk, not Disco.

I don't think that old men ought to promote wars for young men to fight
06-24-2006 06:59 PM
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Echoes73 Offline
Dark Side of the Moon

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Post: #6
 
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.
06-25-2006 07:28 AM
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Jumpy Offline
Wish You Were Here

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Post: #7
 
"Jungle Boogie" is an awesome song.

I especially appreciate it at wedding receptions.
06-26-2006 11:10 AM
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sea green queen Offline
Pink Floyd

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Post: #8
 
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.

Voodoo Chile & pre-Stones Mick Taylor
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06-26-2006 04:32 PM
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Stumpy Floyd Offline
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Post: #9
 
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...
06-27-2006 05:31 PM
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SpitfireMkV Offline
A Saucerful of Secrets

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Post: #10
 
This is truly a sad day in music's history. truly a sad day
06-28-2006 04:32 PM
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