Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey dies

[K-Bee]

This is sad :( Another talent lost. Ron Kersey died on Jan 25th 2005
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BYLINE: By YVONNE LATTY; lat...@phillynews.com


RON "Have Mercy" Kersey, wrote the music to one of the
hottest songs of the disco era, "Disco Inferno."

The infectious, pulsating, shake-your-booty beat, of "Disco
Inferno" was guaranteed to get even the most awkward dancer
out on the floor.


Kersey was a member of "The Trammps" when he wrote "Disco
Inferno," a monster hit in 1977. It was just one of the many
hits that Kersey was a big part of during the Philadelphia
music explosion of the 1970s.


As a producer and studio musician, his work could be heard
on hit songs by the O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, the Salsoul
Orchestra and others.


Kersey was still going strong in 1997 when, while living in
Los Angeles, he suffered a stroke. His sister Toni Kersey
brought her ailing brother back home. He died Monday of
complications from pneumonia after struggling with his
health for years. He was 55.


Kersey, who was born in North Philadelphia, was a musician
all his life, and that's all he ever wanted to be, his
sister said.


"He's been playing since he was 6 years old," she said. He
was a piano and keyboard player.


Kersey graduated from Edison High School and then went on to
serve in the Air Force. That's where he got his nickname.
"While playing in the Air Force band in Springfield,
Massachusetts, whenever he did a solo, people would scream.
'Have Mercy, Mr. Kersey,' " his sister recalled.

After Kersey left the Air Force, his good friend Norman
Harris, who became a big part of the "Philadelphia Sound,"
got him involved.

He was a member of the Trammps for one year and won a Grammy
in 1987 for the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, which the
song was a big part of.
"He left the Trammps because he didn't like all the
traveling, so he went back to being a studio musician and a
producer," Toni Kersey said.
He later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career there. In
L.A., he wrote a hit song for Atlantic Starr called "Send
for Me." He also produced and worked for Staci Lattisaw,
Patti LaBelle, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.

"He loved what he did," Toni Kersey said. "I wasn't
surprised by his success. His life was music."
He is also survived by his mother, Gevoda; daughter, Keisha
Kersey-Walker; another sister, Karri; three grandchildren,
and a niece, Ayanna.

Services:Noon Wednesday at First Corinthian Baptist Church,
50th Street and Ceder Avenue. Friends may call at 9 a.m.
Burial will be at Rolling Green Memorial Park in West
Chester.

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[Bernie]

That is truly sad news. Kersey's name appears on practically every great Trammps record and countless other Philly and Salsoul productions. He will truly be missed.

[DoctorDisco]

Sorry to hear the news.

[NickNack]

Geez. I hope 2005 doesn't start looking like 2004 with "lost artists". This guy's talent was awesome, a real influence on the Philly hit machine.

[Jimmy-Michaels]

Def another great loss and sad news..somehow I had a strange feeling one of the next 2 after Johnny Carson (late night TV king of the US for the people that didnt know) passed would be a disco/soul great :(

[jam master jay]

Very, very sad news. He indeed was a huge influence on many disco classics, and will be missed.

[neonlights]

wow.. we've really lost a lot of prominent musicians in the last little while - sad seeing yet another loss :(

[Giovanni]

One of those names I read million times on the back covers of my beloved records.
It's so sad that so many stars of the disco era die / died so young

Thank you for all the great moments you gave us Ron!!!