Kool & the Gang’s Bell dies at 68

One of the founding members of Kool & the Gang has died aged 68. Music legend Ronald Bell died at his home in the US Virgin Islands on Wednesday with his wife by his side, his publicist has announced.

He was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1951 but his family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey in 1961.

In 1964, he co-founded the band along with his older brother Robert Bell.

In its early days, the brothers would collect old paint cans to use as makeshift percussion instruments.

Kool & the Gang went on to become one of the biggest bands of the 1970s and won the album of the year Grammy in 1978 for their work on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

In addition to performing with the group, Bell co-wrote many of the bands most popular songs including Celebration, Jungle Boogie, Ladies Night and Get Down On It.

The band were the only American group to perform on

Band Aid’s 1984 charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? because they were in the UK when it was being recorded.

In 2015 Kool & the Gang were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and three years later Bell was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The band’s music has also been used in several popular movies including Rocky and Baby Boy. They are one of the most sampled artists of all time.

Many have paid tribute to the star online. One fan said on social media: “Kool & the Gang co-founder Ronald Bell passed away today at age 68. He wrote and composed classics like “Celebration,” “Cherish” and “Jungle Boogie.” Rest, Sir. And thank you.”

Another wrote: “Rest in Beats to Khalis Bayyan (aka Ronald Bell) founding member of #KoolAndTheGang and brother of leader Robert Kool Bell.”

Mr Bell is survived by his wife and 10 children.

Ronald Bell founded the band with his brother