(1969 - 1977)
The pianist Ricky West is probably - no definitely - best remembered for writing the bands first number one "Hollywood Swinging" but this was neither the first nor last track he wrote but it was to my knowledge the only charting single. As a member of Kool & The Gang he also took percussion roles on occasion (almost all long time members seem to have played percussion at some time).
Apart from "Hollywood Swinging" he also wrote "Fruitman", "Dujii" (meaning heroin), "Ricksonata", and "North, East, South, West".
By the "Love & Understanding" LP according to BMI he was contributing to the writing of less and less tracks until (again according to BMI) he only contributed to two songs on the "Open Sesame" LP.
According to the official site he then left the band to form the enigmatic "North, East, South, West" (other sources say he stayed to '78) in which he apparently (according to BMI again) he wrote another thirty nine to forty eight tracks (some of these may in fact be more Kool & The Gang tracks) but whatever his only album Ricky West & North, South, East consisted only of covers for legal reasons.
Richard means "powerful leader" (he did do brilliant lead vocals at least twice and eventually form his own band)
Allen means "precious"
and Westfield means exactly that and he was certainly influence strongly by the West.
Kool & The Gang used the nickname "Hollywood" on the dedication on the "Everything's ...: Greatest Hits & More" liner and it is certainly appropriate. Apart from "Hollywood Swinging" he has also apparently written at least two other songs on the subject ("I Did It In Hollywood" and "Who Wants To Move To Hollywood").
He died of illness in 1985.