Ron Kersey
Tyrone Garfield "Ron (Have Mercy)" Kersey (April 7, 1949 – January 25, 2005) was an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger most known for writing the music to "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps.
Kersey was born in Philadelphia, PA, and served in the US Air Force. He was a member of the disco band The Trammps and received a Grammy Award for the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever which included "Disco Inferno". He was also a member of MFSB and The Salsoul Orchestra. Kersey suffered a stroke in 1997 and died in Philadelphia in 2005. In addition to co-writing “Disco Inferno” Ron produced or co-wrote songs that reached the top 20 for other artists. He produced Stephanie Mills’ “I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love” which charted at number #1 for two weeks on the R&B charts. It was Mills’ first number one single and would prove to be her most successful single. Ron Kersey was also the producer for her next single “If I Were Your Woman”, a cover of the Gladys Knight and the Pips hit that reached number #1 for three weeks on the R&B charts for Stephanie Mills. In addition he co-wrote “Every Drop of Your Love” for Stacy Lattisaw that peaked at #8 on the R&B charts. He co-wrote the classic slow jam “Send for Me” with his friend Sam Dees for Atlantic Starr which peaked at #16. For Evelyn “Champaign” King he co-wrote “Kisses Don’t Lie” with Alex Brown peaking at #17 on the R&B charts. Kersey's session work, songwriting, producing and arranging allowed him to work with such notable artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Patti LaBelle, Blue Magic, Stevie Wonder and Jeffrey Osborne to name a few.
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References:Discogs.com, All Music.com