Jerome Smith

Jerome Smith (June 18, 1953 – July 28, 2000) was a guitarist at TK Records in Miami, Florida, who was a member of KC and the Sunshine Band from their inception in 1973 until his death in 2000. His rhythm guitar playing was a key part of the band's propulsive disco sound, first gaining international attention on George McRae's hit recording of "Rock Your Baby" (for T.K.) in 1974. Smith's high-pitched, restless guitar solo on "Get Down Tonight", KC and the Sunshine Band's first US #1 single, resembled the sound of a synthesizer. It was achieved by speeding up the solo guitar track against a normal-speed rhythm guitar track in the studio. With the group he recorded five No. 1 songs, including "That's the Way (I Like It)", "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" and "I'm Your Boogie Man".