Kool & the Gang co-founder Claydes Charles Smith dead

[dark_shadows]

news link
Friday, June 23, 2006; Posted: 8:38 a.m. EDT (12:38 GMT)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Claydes Charles Smith, a co-founder and lead guitarist of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 57.
Smith died Tuesday in Maplewood, New Jersey, after a long illness, his publicist said.

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

 

[montana_16]

I'm sorry to hear this. I always loved Kool and The Gang! Lots and lots of great songs.

 

[englishleigh]

I loved them, too. Another sad thing that happened to this band is that the daughter of JT Thomas, the sax player in the band, died a few years ago of cancer. She was Michelle Thomas, an actress who played on "Family Matters" and "The Cosby Show" in the early 90's.

RIP, Mr. Smith.