Died On This Date (May 14, 2012) Belita Woods / R&B Singer
themusicsover Belita Woods
October 23, 1948 – May 14, 2012
Belita Woods was a Detroit, Michigan soul singer who first commanded attention while fronting Brainstorm during the ’70s. Beginning as a solo act, Woods released her first single, “Magic Corner,” in 1967. She later joined Brainstorm who, in 1977, released their debut album, Stormin’. It included the disco hit, “Love Is Really My Game.” The following year, Brainstorm released two more albums before Woods went off on her own again. In 1992, she joined the P-Funk All-Stars, with whom she toured for many years. Through the course of her career, Woods sang on records by the likes of George Clinton, Prince, Bootsy Collins, and Betty Wright. Belita Woods died of heart failure on May 14, 2012. She was 63.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin from 2+ Printing for the assist.
What You Should Own
Ronnie Smith was a trumpet player and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered as an original member of one of the disco era’s biggest and most enduring bands, KC & the Sunshine Band. Thanks to contributions from Smith, the group created the blueprint for the upbeat and horn-driven “Miami sound” that acts like the Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan would later follow. A dynamic performer on stage, Smith was often the horn section’s focal point and choreographed its funky dance moves. Prior to his tenure in the Sunshine Band, Smith formed the Ocean Liner Band who backed R&B great, Betty Wright, and played on countless recordings released by the legendary Miami label, TK Records. He also wrote “Spank,” which became a big disco hit by Jimmie “Bo” Horne in 1978. That same year, Smith released his one an only album, Party Freaks (Come On) as Ron Louis Smith. In 2004, he was attacked during a car-jacking that left him in a coma and hospitalized ever since. An arrest was never made. Ronnie Smith ultimately died of his injuries on January 21, 2012. He was 59.