Chic Keyboardist Raymond Jones 1959-2011 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-11-2011, 09:45 PM

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Raymond Jones, a keyboardist, songwriter and producer who played in disco group Chic and composed songs for films by Spike Lee, died on July 1 from pneumonia in East Point, Ga. He was 52.

A native of Queens, N.Y., Jones joined fledgling group Chic as a keyboardist when he was 19 and recorded on several of the band's hits -- most notably "Le Freak" and "Good Times" -- as well as playing on Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and Diana Ross' "Upside Down." In the early 1980s, Jones toured with Talking Heads, the Tom Tom Club and Chaka Khan, and he wrote Jeffrey Osborne's 1983 hit "Stay With Me Tonight."

Jones' forays into movies came via a relationship with Lee, who enlisted him as a songwriter and producer for four of his films -- "School Daze," "Get on the Bus," "Clockers" and "Do the Right Thing." "Do the Right Thing" boasted three of Jones' compositions on the soundtrack, which, thanks to Public Enemy single "Fight the Power," became an iconic document of the era's urban music landscape.

Jones also served as musical director for Fox's "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" in 1997.

cleverfun3000 · 07-11-2011, 09:55 PM

Wow. I am very sorry to hear that. What a talent. He enriched the world with his blessings. For that I thank him. How many of the original CHIC members are still alive anyway?

catlover79 · 07-12-2011, 12:28 AM

The remaining original members: Nile Rodgers, Norma Jean Wright, and Luci Martin. Bernard Edwards (bass, vocals, co-writer and co-producer) died in 1996 and drummer Tony Thompson passed on in 2003. Vocalist Alfa Anderson is still around, but she didn't join Chic until their second album.

cleverfun3000 · 07-14-2011, 11:21 PM

Thank You, Catlover for the updated info. I am a HUGE Chic fan.

catlover79 · 07-14-2011, 11:35 PM

You're welcome!! I can't stay out of my chair when "Dance, Dance, Dance" comes on.

Of course, the Rodgers/Edwards team went on to great success writing/producing for Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and Madonna among others.

isiahthomas · 07-30-2011, 11:22 AM

I love Chic too. I got their greatest hits cd. I was listening to it this morning. I love their songs Dance Dance Dance, Everybody Dance, Le Freak, Good Times, My Forbidden Lover, You Can Get By, Strike Up The Band, My Feet Keep Dancing. Sorry to hear their group member died.

07-11-2011, 09:45 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Chic Keyboardist Raymond Jones 1959-2011 Link Raymond Jones, a keyboardist, songwriter and producer who played in disco group Chic and composed songs for films by Spike Lee, died on July 1 from pneumonia in East Point, Ga. He was 52. A native of Queens, N.Y., Jones joined fledgling group Chic as a keyboardist when he was 19 and recorded on several of the band's hits -- most notably "Le Freak" and "Good Times" -- as well as playing on Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and Diana Ross' "Upside Down." In the early 1980s, Jones toured with Talking Heads, the Tom Tom Club and Chaka Khan, and he wrote Jeffrey Osborne's 1983 hit "Stay With Me Tonight." Jones' forays into movies came via a relationship with Lee, who enlisted him as a songwriter and producer for four of his films -- "School Daze," "Get on the Bus," "Clockers" and "Do the Right Thing." "Do the Right Thing" boasted three of Jones' compositions on the soundtrack, which, thanks to Public Enemy single "Fight the Power," became an iconic document of the era's urban music landscape. Jones also served as musical director for Fox's "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" in 1997.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

07-12-2011, 12:28 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	The remaining original members: Nile Rodgers, Norma Jean Wright, and Luci Martin. Bernard Edwards (bass, vocals, co-writer and co-producer) died in 1996 and drummer Tony Thompson passed on in 2003. Vocalist Alfa Anderson is still around, but she didn't join Chic until their second album.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-11-2011, 09:55 PM	#2
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685	Wow. I am very sorry to hear that. What a talent. He enriched the world with his blessings. For that I thank him. How many of the original CHIC members are still alive anyway?

07-14-2011, 11:21 PM	#4
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685	Thank You, Catlover for the updated info. I am a HUGE Chic fan.

07-14-2011, 11:35 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	You're welcome!! I can't stay out of my chair when "Dance, Dance, Dance" comes on. Of course, the Rodgers/Edwards team went on to great success writing/producing for Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and Madonna among others.

07-30-2011, 11:22 AM	#6
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I love Chic too. I got their greatest hits cd. I was listening to it this morning. I love their songs Dance Dance Dance, Everybody Dance, Le Freak, Good Times, My Forbidden Lover, You Can Get By, Strike Up The Band, My Feet Keep Dancing. Sorry to hear their group member died.