# Claydes Charles Smith

Claydes "Charles" Smith (born Claydes Eugene 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.

## Biography
### Early life

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

### Kool & the Gang

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.
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.

### Personal life and death

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
### Studio albums

| Year | Album |
| 1969 | Kool and the Gang |
| 1972 | Music Is the Message |
| 1972 | Good Times |
| 1973 | Wild and Peaceful |
| 1974 | Light of Worlds |
| 1975 | Spirit of the Boogie |
| 1976 | Love & Understanding |
| 1976 | 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

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

### Singles

| Year | Single |
| 1969 | "Kool and the Gang" |
| 1969 | "The Gang's Back Again" (A-side) |
| 1969 | "Kool's Back Again" (B-side) |
| 1970 | "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)" |
| 1970 | "Let the Music Take Your Mind" |
| 1970 | "Funky Man" |
| 1971 | "Who's Gonna Take the Weight (Part One)" |
| 1971 | "I Want to Take You Higher" |
| 1971 | "N.T. Part I" |
| 1972 | "Love the Life You Live, Part I" |
| 1972 | "Music Is the Message (Part 1)" |
| 1972 | "Funky Granny" |
| 1972 | "Good Times" |
| 1973 | "Country Junky" |
| 1973 | "Funky Stuff" |
| 1973 | "Jungle Boogie" |
| 1974 | "Hollywood Swinging" |
| 1974 | "Higher Plane" |
| 1974 | "Rhyme Tyme People" |
| 1975 | "Spirit of the Boogie" (A-side) |
| 1975 | "Summer Madness" (B-side) |
| 1975 | "Caribbean Festival" |
| 1976 | "Love and Understanding (Come Together)" |
| 1976 | "Universal Sound" |
| 1976 | "Open Sesame - Part 1" |
| 1977 | "Super Band" |
| 1978 | "Slick Superchick" |
| 1978 | "A Place in Space" |
| 1978 | "I Like Music" |
| 1978 | "Everybody's Dancin'" |
| 1979 | "Ladies' Night" |
| 1979 | "Too Hot" |
| 1980 | "Hangin' Out" |
| 1980 | "Celebration" |
| 1981 | "Take It to the Top" |
| 1981 | "Jones vs. Jones" |
| 1981 | "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" |
| 1981 | "Steppin' Out" |
| 1981 | "Get Down on It" |
| 1982 | "No Show" |
| 1982 | "Big Fun" |
| 1982 | "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" |
| 1982 | "Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho" |
| 1983 | "Street Kids" |
| 1983 | "Straight Ahead" |
| 1983 | "Joanna" |
| 1984 | "Tonight" |
| 1984 | "(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart" |
| 1984 | "Fresh" |
| 1984 | "Misled" |
| 1985 | "Cherish" |
| 1985 | "Emergency" |
| 1986 | "Victory" |
| 1987 | "Stone Love" |
| 1987 | "Holiday" |
| 1987 | "Special Way" |
| 1987 | "Peace Maker" |
| 1988 | "Rags to Riches" |
| 1988 | "Strong" |
| 1988 | "Celebration" (remix) |
| 1989 | "Raindrops" |
| 1989 | "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) |
| 2004 | "Too Hot" (with Lisa Stansfield) |
| 2004 | "Get Down on It" (with Blue & Lil' Kim) |
| 2005 | "Hollywood Swinging" (with Jamiroquai) |
| 2005 | "No Show" (featuring Blackstreet) |
| 2006 | "Steppin' into Love" |

## Awards and nominations
### Grammy Awards

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