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Claydes "Charles" Smith (born Claydes Eugene Smith;[1] September 6, 1948 – June 20, 2006) was an American musician best known as co-founder and lead guitarist of the group Kool & the Gang.

Claydes Charles Smith
Birth nameClaydes Eugene Smith
Born(1948-09-06)September 6, 1948
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 20, 2006(2006-06-20) (aged 57)
Maplewood, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresR&B
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1964-2006
Formerly ofKool & the Gang

Biography

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Early life

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Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he was introduced to jazz guitar by his father in the early 1960s.

Kool & the Gang

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In the late 1960s, he joined with Ronald Bell (later Khalis Bayyan), Robert "Kool" Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas and Robert "Spike" Mickens to become Kool & the Gang. His cool jazz stylings and octave runs, reminiscent of Wes Montgomery but uniquely his own, enriched the music of the group. His playing on the hit "Summer Madness" is a fine example of his work.

Kool & the Gang blended jazz, funk, R&B, and pop. The group remained popular from the 1960s through the 1980s.[2]

Smith stopped touring in January 2006 due to illness.

In 2024, Smith was posthumously selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Kool & the Gang.[3]

Personal life and death

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Smith's family included six children: Claydes A. Smith, Justin Smith, Aaron Corbin, August Williams, Uranus Smith-Garay, and Tyteen Humes. He died in Maplewood, New Jersey, on June 20, 2006, aged 57. He is buried in Westfield, New Jersey's Fairview Cemetery.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album
1969 Kool and the Gang
1972 Music Is the Message
Good Times
1973 Wild and Peaceful
1974 Light of Worlds
1975 Spirit of the Boogie
1976 Love & Understanding
Open Sesame
1977 The Force
1978 Everybody's Dancin'
1979 Ladies' Night
1980 Celebrate!
1981 Something Special
1982 As One
1983 In the Heart
1984 Emergency
1986 Forever
1989 Sweat
1992 Unite
1996 State of Affairs
2001 Gangland
2004 The Hits: Reloaded

Live albums

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Year Album
1971 Live at the Sex Machine
Live at PJ's
1998 Greatest Hits Live
2002 Too Hot Live

Singles

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Year Single
1969 "Kool and the Gang"
"The Gang's Back Again" (A-side)
"Kool's Back Again" (B-side)
1970 "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)"
"Let the Music Take Your Mind"
"Funky Man"
1971 "Who's Gonna Take the Weight (Part One)"
"I Want to Take You Higher"
"N.T. Part I"
1972 "Love the Life You Live, Part I"
"Music Is the Message (Part 1)"
"Funky Granny"
"Good Times"
1973 "Country Junky"
"Funky Stuff"
"Jungle Boogie"
1974 "Hollywood Swinging"
"Higher Plane"
"Rhyme Tyme People"
1975 "Spirit of the Boogie" (A-side)
"Summer Madness" (B-side)
"Caribbean Festival"
1976 "Love and Understanding (Come Together)"
"Universal Sound"
"Open Sesame - Part 1"
1977 "Super Band"
1978 "Slick Superchick"
"A Place in Space"
"I Like Music"
"Everybody's Dancin'"
1979 "Ladies' Night"
"Too Hot"
1980 "Hangin' Out"
"Celebration"
1981 "Take It to the Top"
"Jones vs. Jones"
"Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)"
"Steppin' Out"
"Get Down on It"
1982 "No Show"
"Big Fun"
"Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)"
"Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho"
1983 "Street Kids"
"Straight Ahead"
"Joanna"
1984 "Tonight"
"(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart"
"Fresh"
"Misled"
1985 "Cherish"
"Emergency"
1986 "Victory"
1987 "Stone Love"
"Holiday"
"Special Way"
"Peace Maker"
1988 "Rags to Riches"
"Strong"
"Celebration" (remix)
1989 "Raindrops"
"Never Give Up"
1991 "Get Down on It" (remix)
1992 "(Jump Up on The) Rhythm and Ride"
1996 "Salute to the Ladies"
2003 "Ladies Night" (with Atomic Kitten)
2004 "Fresh" (with Liberty X)
"Too Hot" (with Lisa Stansfield)
"Get Down on It" (with Blue & Lil' Kim)
2005 "Hollywood Swinging" (with Jamiroquai)
"No Show" (featuring Blackstreet)
2006 "Steppin' into Love"

Awards and nominations

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Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1975 Light of Worlds Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance Nominated [4]
1979 "Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack)" Grammy Award for Album of the Year Won

References

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  1. ^ "BillionGraves - Claydes Eugene Smith". billiongraves.de. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Charles Smith, Kool & the Gang guitarist, dies at 57". SFGate.com. Archived from the original on 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2006-06-23.
  3. ^ "2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Claydes Smith | Artist". www.grammy.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.