Ron Louis Smith

Ronald Louis Smith (born April 12th, 1952; died February 10th, 1993) was an American musician, songwriter, and arranger from Miami, Florida.

He began his professional career as a trumpet player and drum major at Jackson and Edison Senior High Schools before co-founding the Ocean Liner Band with his brother, Jerome Smith. This ensemble eventually served as the foundational unit for KC and the Sunshine Band. Within the group, Smith acted as the lead trumpet player, horn section leader, and primary choreographer, developing the stage routines and coordinated movements that became central to the band's public identity during the disco era.

Beyond his contributions to the Sunshine Band, Smith established a career as a record producer and session musician. In 1978, he wrote and produced the hit single "Spank" for Jimmie "Bo" Horne, a track that became a definitive recording within the Miami dance music scene. His technical expertise extended to international projects, including the arrangement and performance of the trumpet parts on the Bob Marley recording "Buffalo Soldier." Additionally, Smith contributed to Herman Kelly’s "Let’s Dance to the Drummer’s Beat" and collaborated with Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine at the Miami Sound Centre and Miami Sound Studio, assisting in the development of the region's rhythmic pop aesthetic.

The musical catalogue and professional estate of Ronald Louis Smith are, at the time of writing, currently managed by his son, Ron Louis Smith II, through Robe Publishing Company Inc. and Sunpire Records. These entities oversee contemporary licensing opportunities for film, television, and advertising, as well as digital sampling clearances. Upcoming projects for 2026 include the release of archival material and remastered sessions from the Ocean Liner Band era, alongside new dance-pop production projects scheduled to debut in the coming year.