Ronald Bell

American composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, the younger brother of Robert "Kool" Bell and co-founding member of their group, Kool & the Gang.

In 1964, the brothers joined neighborhood friends Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a distinctivee musical blend of jazz, soul, and funk. At first calling themselves "The Jazziacs", the band went through various name changes - the New Dimensions, the Soul Town Band, and Kool & the Flames before settling on Kool & the Gang launched in 1969.

Ronald Bell composed, arranged, produced and performed some of the most popular music. A self-taught musician, his signature sound can be heard on the band's horn lines, bass, synthesizer and vocals. He wrote and produced many of the band's songs including "Celebration", "Cherish", "Jungle Boogie", "Summer Madness", and "Open Sesame".

Bell was Muslim, and was given the name Khalis Bayyan. He was the father of singer Rachid "Rasalus" Bell, who often performs under the stage name Ra. Ronald Bell died at his home in the United States Virgin Islands on 9 September 2020 at age 68.