Kool & The Gang co-founder Ronald 'Khalis' Bell has died, his publicist has said.
Bell, 68, died on Wednesday at his home in the US Virgin Islands with his wife by his side.
The music legend co-wrote many of the band's most memorable songs, including party favourite Celebration, Jungle Boogie, Ladies Night and Get Down On It.
Despite his huge legacy, Bell remained humble when asked about his contributions to music.
"A lot of the songs, I may have spearheaded 'em. But it's really, with a 'K,' the [collective] genius of a band called Kool & The Gang," he told The New Yorker in 2018.
Kool & The Gang were one of the biggest bands of the 1970s, winning a Grammy award in 1978 for their work on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack - one of the best-selling albums in history.
They are also one of the most sampled artists of all time, particularly for the track Jungle Boogie.
The band were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2015, and three years later Bell was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Popular soul website Soul Tracks lists Celebration as one of the greatest disco songs of all time.
The beginnings of Kool & The Gang were formed when Bell and his brother Robert 'Kool' Bell would collect old paint cans and use them as makeshift percussion instruments.
They later went on to form the Jazziacs with friends Robert "Spike" Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith - eventually becoming Kool & The Gang.
They made 23 albums spanning decades and have become a staple at weddings and parties.
Bell is survived by his wife and 10 children.
His cause of death is not known.
Latest Stories
-
Ghanaian youth unaware of their right to hold politicians accountable – Youth Bridge Foundation
21 mins -
Judge delays Trump sentencing for a third time
37 mins -
2024 WAFCON: Ghana drawn against defending champions South Africa in Group C
1 hour -
Photos from DW-JoyNews street debate on ‘galamsey’
2 hours -
Mimmy Yeboah: Blending heritage with global sophistication, confidence redefined through couture
2 hours -
100 Most Influential People Awards 2024: Brain Hill International School’s Director Mary Anane Awuku honoured
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions 97-km Tema-Mpakadan railway line
3 hours -
Majority requests recall of Parliament
3 hours -
Kanzlsperger and Professor Quartey support WAFA with medical Donation
3 hours -
Gideon Boako donates 10 industrial sewing machines to Yamfo Technical Institute
3 hours -
‘Golden Boy’ Abdul Karim Razak honored at WAFU-B general assembly
3 hours -
Buipewura Jinapor secures Vice Presidential position in National House of Chiefs with record votes
4 hours -
2024 election: I want results to come out like ‘milk and honey’ – Toobu
4 hours -
Ghana’s Henry Bukari hands over chairmanship of ECOWAS Brown Card Council of Bureaux
4 hours -
Residents of Dome-Kwabenya on edge ahead of December elections
4 hours