Kool And The Gang

Kool And The Gang Biography

Kool & the Gang

Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, along with Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West, established Kool & the Gang in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964. Over the course of their career, they have had multiple personnel changes and have experimented with a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. The group joined with De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang, after deciding on their moniker after going through multiple name changes (1969).

Their initial performances were as the opening act for a regular jazz night that was held every Sunday at a nearby theater. During their early years, they occasionally performed with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Leon Thomas as well. The group later went by various different names, including The Soul Town Band and The New Dimensions. During this time, they performed Motown covers as the backup band for Soul Town, a little Jersey City-based group that was comparable to Motown. They made the decision to perform under their own name in 1967 and established themselves as regulars at the Blue Note Lounge in Jersey. One of the MCs promoted them under the moniker Kool & the Flames. To avoid confusion with James Brown‘s band, The Famous Flames, their manager Gene Redd advised against it, which led to a further name change to Kool & the Gang in 1969.

With the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which featured the US top-ten songs “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging,” the band experienced their first taste of success. Following their collaboration with Brazilian artist and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James “J.T.” Taylor to the lineup, Kool & the Gang went into a period of decline before they hit a second commercial apex between 1979 and 1986. During this time, their most popular albums were Ladies’ Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980) and Emergency (1984), their two million-copy-selling best-sellers in the US. During this time, they had several successful songs, including “Ladies’ Night,” the US No. 1 “Celebration,” “Get Down on It,” “Joanna,” “Misled,” and “Cherish.” The group still performs regularly all over the world, including in support of Van Halen in 2012 and on their 50th anniversary tour in 2014.

Kool & the Gang has earned numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, the Chairman’s Award for artistic accomplishment from the Music Business Association. The band has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Mobo Award for Outstanding Achievement, a Soul Train Legend Award, a Marian Anderson Award, and induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The group was admitted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2007. The Bells, Brown, and Taylor were additionally enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. They have 23 studio albums and nearly 70 singles in their repertoire. In the US, their albums and singles have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million copies, respectively, according to the RIAA. They have sold 70 million albums globally.

Discography

Perfect UnionSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Still Kool
ForeverSpotifyAppleYouTube
Something SpecialSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Everybody’s Dancin’SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The ForceSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Spirit of the BoogieSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Good TimesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Kool and the GangSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Albums Did Kool And The Gang Release?

Kool and the Gang released a total of 31 albums, including both studio and live albums. The group’s debut album, ‘Kool and the Gang’, was released in 1969. They achieved their greatest level of commercial success in the 1970s with a string of hit singles and albums, including ‘Wild and Peaceful’ (1973), ‘Open Sesame’ (1976), and ‘Ladies Night’ (1979). The group has continued to tour and record throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. In total, Kool and the Gang have sold over 70 million records worldwide.

Are There Any Original Members Of Kool And The Gang?

Yes, there are several original members of Kool and the Gang. The band was founded in 1964 by brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, along with their friend Ricky Westfield. The current lineup includes several original members, including James “JT” Taylor, George Brown, Charles Smith, and Dennis Thomas.

How Many Members Are There In Kool And The Gang?

There are ten members in Kool And The Gang. Founding members include Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, Ricky Westfield, Dennis Thomas, and George Brown. Newer members include James “JT” Taylor, Khalis Bayyan, Amir Bayyan, Steve Arrington, and Charles Smith.

What Was Kool & The Gang’S First Song?

The group’s first song was “Kool and the Gang”, which was released in 1969. The song was not a hit, but it did help to get the group’s name out there. The group’s first real hit came in 1970 with the song “Funky Stuff”. “Funky Stuff” was a top 40 hit and helped to put Kool & the Gang on the map. The group would go on to have many more hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Some of their most popular songs include “Celebration”, “Get Down On It”, and “Joanna”.

What Was Kool And The Gang’S Only No 1 Hit?

Kool and the Gang’s only No 1 hit was “Celebration.” The song was released in 1980 as part of the band’s album of the same name. It reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1981 and remained there for two weeks. “Celebration” was also a No 1 hit in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Most Searched For Songs

Celebration SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Get Down On It SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Cherish – Single Version SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
FreshSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
PeacemakerSpotifyYouTube
Summer Madness – 1976/Live At The Rainbow Theatre, London SpotifyApple
Jungle Boogie SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Ladies Night – Single Version SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Hollywood Swinging SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon