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CLAYDES "CHARLES" SMITH,
KOOL & THE GANG GUITARIST AND CO-FOUNDER,
PASSES AWAY AT AGE 57 AFTER PROLONGED ILLNESS
Stellar Musician Wrote Band’s Hit "Joanna," Co-Wrote
Other Classic Songs, Held Down Groove For 40 Years
June 20, 2006
Claydes "Charles" Smith, known as Charles Smith – co-founder and lead guitarist of Kool & the Gang – passed away June 20 after a prolonged illness. He was 57.
"We’re devastated," said band manager Tia Sinclair. "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. We miss him terribly."
Smith was born on Sept. 6, 1948 in Jersey City, N.J., the son of Willis and Thomas Smith. Introduced to jazz guitar by his father in the early ’60s, he co-founded Kool & the Gang later in the decade, along with Ronald Bell (later Khalis Bayyan), Robert "Kool" Bell, George Brown and Dennis Thomas. The senior member of the group, Smith co-wrote many of the band’s hits, including "Celebration," "Hollywood Swinging" and "Jungle Boogie," and penned the Top 40 smash "Joanna." His authoritative guitar work was an integral part of the superstar group’s sound for 40 years. Smith took a leave from touring in January of this year due to his illness.
He is survived by his six children, Claydes A. Smith, Justin Smith, Aaron Corbin, August Williams, Uranus Guray and Tyteen Humes, and eight grandchildren.
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