Ronald Bell, co-founder of funk group Kool & the Gang, has died aged 68.
The performer, who co-wrote hits including Celebration, Jungle Boogie and Ladies' Night, passed away at his home in the US Virgin Islands on Wednesday, September 9.
A cause of death has not been given.
Bell passed away with his wife, Tia Sinclair, by his side, publicist Sujata Murthy told the Daily Mail.
Ohio-born Bell founded disco favourites Kool & the Gang with his brother Robert and friends Dennis Thomas, Robert Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West in the early 1960s, fusing a foundation of jazz with smatterings of funk, R&B and pop.
The group became a major smash in the 1970s, with their brassy funk putting them in a class with Earth, Wind and Fire, the Isley Brothers and Sly and the Family Stone.
Kool & the Gang scored a Grammy in 1978 for their contributions to the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.
In 2015, Kool & the Gang were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
Bell, who followed the Islamic faith, was also known as Khalis Bayyan.
A self-taught musician, he wrote some of the ensemble's major hits including Celebration, which is still a popular anthem at sporting events.
The group remain a DJ favourite and are heavily sampled especially in the rap world, with tracks appearing in songs by artists including Jay-Z, Nas, NWA, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes.
Influence from around the globe, including Arab world
Speaking to The National in 2014, Bell revealed that the band, which toured consistently for 50 years, incorporated elements of many genres into their music.
"We travel so much that we marry a lot of different cultures into our music. Our music is not just funk, it has pop, rock, country and a lot of other things," he said. "For example, one of our songs, Open Sesame [the title track from the 1976 album], has some musical scales synonymous with music from the Arab region."
He also revealed that while Kool & the Gang would play their biggest hits for fans, they would try to shake things up after decades of singing the same material.
"We can get bored playing the same thing, but at the same time, people want to hear what they want to hear – songs such as Fresh and Jungle Boogie," he said. "The challenge is to play with the song a bit, but not to take it too far from its original style."
Bell is survived by his wife and 10 children.
- Additional reporting by AFP
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059