Leroy Burgess is a songwriter and prolific disco producer. He is related to Thom Bell and Kool & The Gang members Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell (a.k.a. Khalis Bayyan) and Amir Bayyan (a.k.a. Kevin Bell) of the Kay-Gees. Burgess was a member of Black Ivory and lead vocalist of the majority of their hits in the early '70s. The band was signed by small East Coast label Today/Perception, which was run by Patrick Adams, also the band's manager. Burgess frequently collaborated with Adams in writing songs, as well.