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

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

Later in that decade, he was in a group of New Jersey jazz musicians, including Ronald Bell (later Khalis Bayyan), Robert "Kool" Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas, the late Rick West and Robert "Spike" Mickens, who became Kool & the Gang. Other members would include lead singer James "JT" Taylor.

Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B, and pop with such tunes as "Jungle Boogie, "Hollywood Swinging," "Summer Madness" and "Open Sesame." Despite their popularity waning briefly, the group enjoyed a return to stardom during the 1980s with songs like "Too Hot," "Get Down On It," "Cherish," "Fresh' and "Ladie's Night."

Illness forced Smith to stop touring with the group in January 2006. He died in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Smith, who was known professionally as Charles Smith, wrote the hits "Joanna" and "Take My Heart," and was a co-writer of others, including "Celebration," "Hollywood Swinging," and "Jungle Boogie."

Smith is survived by his six children -- Claydes A. Smith, Justin Smith, Aaron Corbin, August Williams, Uranus Guray, and Tyteen Humes -- and nine grandchildren.

I always loved Kool & the Gang! Way back when they did Jungle Boogie and NT (and I still don't know what NT means!), but I grew up in JC and I remember once when the whole group went to visit Robert's grandmother in Montgomery projects; must've been around 1980. They were so open minded that they stuck around and gave autographs to all of us, Some even stuck around to play (several games of) Basketball! They will never leave my memories and I know that Kool & the Gang will live on forever!

God bless you Charles! You will never be forgotten.

Wooahh, I knew Smitty from Jersey City and my home town of Union City. KOOL AND THE GANG would play these tiny clubs along the two Cities border before they ever released a record. Of course it was almost impossible to get in. HOLLYWOOD SWINGING!! Could that and JUNGLE BOOGIE be the first DISCO records? Could KOOL AND THE GANG be the first DISCO group?? Smitty thought so. When they got their concert speakers made at DENNIS Electronics on Union City, I was employed after-school there. He told me so!!These guys wanted to be the best, and Smitty was their leader. He will be missed, GOD BLESS YOU.