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Kool & the Gang

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File:Kool & the Gang 01.jpg
Kool & the Gang, Singapore 2024
File:Kool & the Gang 02.jpg
Kool & the Gang, Singapore 2024

Kool & the Gang is an American R&B, soul, and funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964. Its founding members include brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell (also known as "Khalis Bayyan"), Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow, and Ricky Westfield. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, rock, and pop music. The group changed their name several times. Settling on Kool & the Gang, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album Kool and the Gang in 1969.

The band's first mainstream success came with the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973); it contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Hollywood Swinging". The band entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the line-up. Their most successful albums of the time include Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), the latter being their highest-selling album, with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during the period include "Ladies' Night" (1979), the US No. 1 "Celebration" (1980), "Get Down on It" (1981), "Joanna" (1983), "Misled" (1984), and "Cherish" (1985). The group has continued to perform worldwide, including as a supporting act for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014.

Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. The group has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been given a MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Throughout 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=MarianAndersonAward>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=MoboAward /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.<ref name="hofgreene">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Their discography includes 23 studio albums and nearly 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million Recording Industry Association of America-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the United States.<ref name=RIAAsingles>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=RIAAalbums>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Worldwide, they have sold over 70 million albums.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

1964–1972: Formation and signing with De-LiteEdit

The band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 when seven school friends decided to perform together as an instrumental jazz and soul group named the Jazziacs.<ref name=atlanticweekly2012 /> Among them were Robert "Kool" Bell on bass, his brother Ronald Bell on keyboards, both from Youngstown, Ohio originally,<ref name=NJmonthly2014>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas on saxophone, Ricky West on keyboards, George Brown on drums, and Charles Smith on guitar.<ref name="Official">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Except Smith, all of them attended Lincoln High School in Jersey City.Template:Sfn Robert Bell had given himself the nickname "Kool" as a way of adapting to the street gangs in his neighborhood after moving from Ohio.<ref name=soulsurvivors>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Bells' father Bobby and uncle Tommy were boxers. They moved to New York to train and lived in the same apartment building as Thelonious Monk, who became Robert's godfather. Miles Davis would drop by because he wanted to be a boxer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Their first gigs took place as the opening act to a weekly jazz night held in a local theatre every Sunday.<ref name=NJmonthly2014 /> They also played occasionally with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Leon Thomas during their early years as a group.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They then had several name changes, including "the Soul Town Band" and "the New Dimensions".Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn They played Motown covers as the backing musicians for Soul Town, a small Jersey City-based organization similar to Motown.<ref name=soulsurvivors /> In 1967, they became regular performers at the Blue Note Lounge in Jersey, where one of the emcees advertised them with a new name, Kool & the Flames. However, since their manager, Gene Redd, advised against taking this name to avoid confusion with James Brown's band, the Famous Flames, the band settled on Kool & the Gang instead.<ref name=RS2009>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

After selecting the new band name and line-up, Kool & the Gang signed a recording deal with Redd's new independent label, De-Lite Records. Redd wrote: "I discovered these eight super talented incomparable young musicians, [...and...] I immediately realized that their potential would earn them success unknown by most musicians".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The group entered the studio and recorded their debut album, the all-instrumental Kool and the Gang (1969), with Redd as a producer, arranger, conductor, and partial songwriter. It would be their only album with guitarist Woody Sparrow.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard R&B chart. Around this time, the group began to develop their stage performance after they witnessed a set by Willie (Feaster) and the Mighty Magnificents which, according to Robert Bell, "Blew us away[...] We thought, 'Wow, if we want to be in show business, we have to change our act. We can't just stand up there and play'."<ref name=NJmonthly2014 /> Also at this time, the group were asked to deliver songs with vocals. Despite Bell recalling the group sounding "real ragged" with lyrics at first, "Bit by bit we gained in confidence... we kinda learnt how to sing as we went along."<ref name=BM75>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The group followed their debut with two live albums: Live at the Sex Machine, recorded the year before, and Live at PJ's, both released in 1971. These were their final albums before their amicable split with Redd. Their next album, Music Is the Message, was the first time the group self-produced one of their records.<ref name=BM75/> It was released in July 1972, and peaked at No. 25 on the R&B chart. It was followed with Good Times in November, which featured the band backed by a string section. The elements of jazz, rock, and instrumental styles on the record made it difficult for reviewers to categorize the band by genre.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since the album failed to generate the radio exposure the group had hoped for, they began to explore how to build a following without relying on airplay.<ref name=BM75/>

1973–1978: First commercial success and low periodEdit

By the spring of 1973, Kool & the Gang was influenced by the growing disco music scene, driving it to create sound Robert Bell described as "a much harder, funkier, tighter" unit than before.<ref name=BM75/> He said band members mostly learned of disco culture from others, and didn't frequent discotheques.

With the change in musical direction came the band's first major commercial success. Their fourth studio album, Wild and Peaceful, <ref name=BM75/> went to No. 33 on the album chart. The album was certified "gold" by RIAA for selling 500,000 copies. It also spawned the Top-40 single "Funky Stuff". The album's next two singles, "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging", fared even better by entering the US top 10. This also marked the group's breakthrough to a white audience.<ref name=BM75/><ref name="Bush">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The latter two songs sold over one million copies and were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).<ref name="Murrells">Template:Cite book</ref>

File:Summer madness by kool and the gang US single side 2.png
The group's 1974 single "Summer Madness" has appeared in numerous media, including in the 1976 drama film Rocky. It was also in a famous 2006 Nike advertisement featuring LeBron James

Their success continued with Light of Worlds (1974), which contained the hit instrumental "Summer Madness". In October 1974, the group landed a spot on the national television music show Soul Train.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1975 Kool & the Gang added Larry Gittens from the Stylistics, and released Spirit of the Boogie which contained the top 40 single "Spirit of the Boogie". That was followed by the part-studio part-live release Love & Understanding, in 1976.

By mid-1976, however, Kool & the Gang entered a period of commercial decline. Rolling Stone writer Geoff Himes wrote the fans "frowned on their loose and greasy approach to dance music."<ref name=RS2009 /> Their three albums released during this time, Open Sesame (1976), The Force (1977), and Everybody's Dancin' (1978) failed to generate the same commercial or critical acclaim as their previous records. Bell later said the albums "bent our style a bit, and we didn't feel at home with it".<ref name=lassen1979>Template:Cite news</ref> The Force and Everybody's DancinTemplate:' displayed the group's attempt to adopt disco elements with female vocalists and a string section, but Robert Bell later said the group got "Too fancy and over-creative[...] We got away from the basic Kool & the Gang sound[...] and the public didn't like it". The change in style affected their ability to secure as many dates as before, working "just off and on" during this time.<ref name=lassen1977>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=latimes1980>Template:Cite news</ref> One review for Everybody's DancinTemplate:' bore the headline, "Kool and the Gang have gone bland." Writer Mike Duffy opined, "They've joined the disco lemmings [...] The edge has gone. Say so long to the raw and raunchy."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During their low period, the group gained some mainstream attention with their contribution of "Open Sesame" to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever (1977).<ref name=lassen1979 /> "Summer Madness" was also used in Rocky (1976), but not released on its soundtrack album.<ref name=lassen1979 />

1979–1988: J.T. Taylor, Deodato partnership, and commercial peakEdit

File:Eumir Deodato 1970.jpg
Kool & the Gang entered a four-album partnership with Brazilian producer Eumir Deodato

By 1979, Kool & the Gang changed musical direction in two distinct ways. After several years of consideration, and at the suggestion of promoter turned SOLAR Records founder Dick Griffey, they brought in a dedicated lead vocalist to become a focal point of their music.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> James "J.T." Taylor from South Carolina was added; Taylor noted that vocals added more warmth to the songs, especially to ballads, which the group had previously avoided as no vocalist in the group could sing them properly. He recalled some resistance to his arrival from some group members and the female singers they had used on The Force and Everybody's DancinTemplate:'.<ref name=hunt1985>Template:Cite news</ref> The change in style developed further when the group entered a four-album association with Brazilian musician, songwriter, and arranger Eumir Deodato as their producer, who helped them move towards mainstream pop and dance-oriented music with greater emphasis on catchy hooks and chorus lines.<ref name=courier1987>Template:Cite news</ref> The group's first choice, Stevie Wonder, was too busy to work with them.<ref name=hunt1985 /> Earl Toon Jr. was added to the group.

Kool & the Gang's first album with Deodato, Ladies' Night, was released in September 1979 and became their most successful album since their formation. This was helped by the hit singles "Too Hot" and "Ladies' Night", which went to No. 5 and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, respectively.<ref name="Hanson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In January 1980, Ladies' Night was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling one million copies in the US.<ref name=Bush /><ref name=RIAAalbums /> Later that year, Celebrate! became a bigger commercial success than Ladies' Night; the lead single "Celebration" remains the band's only single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song originated from the lyric "Come on, let's all celebrate" from "Ladies' Night", which inspired Robert Bell to write "an international anthem."<ref name=RS2009 /><ref name="Hanson" /> The group developed the song on a tour bus after attending the American Music Awards.<ref name=variety2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song was used in national media coverage for the 1980 World Series, the 1981 Super Bowl, the 1981 NBA Finals, and the 1981 return of the Iran hostages.<ref name=RS2009 />

After the release of Something Special (1981), which continued the level of success of the previous two albums, the band recorded their fourth and final album with Deodato, As One (1982). The latter struggled to reach gold certification in the US, which led to the band's decision to end their time with Deodato as they had enough with the direction they had adopted.<ref name=hunt1985 /> They then decided to produce their next album, In the Heart (1983), by themselves with Jim Bonnefond as co-producer. The album contained the US top-five single "Joanna". The song was declared the most-played pop song in 1984 by Broadcast Music International.<ref name=dispatch1987 /> Bonnefond stayed with the group for Emergency (1984), which remains their highest selling album with over two million copies sold in the US. It spawned four US top 20 singles, including "Emergency", "Cherish", "Fresh", and "Misled". The feat made Kool & the Gang the only group to have four top 20 singles from a single album in 1985.<ref name=arizona1987>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 1984, Kool & the Gang took time off from recording Emergency to perform at Wembley Stadium as part of a sold-out summer concert organised by Elton John.<ref name=arizona1987 /> That November, during a visit to Phonogram's offices in London, Bob Geldof arrived to pitch his idea of the multi-artist charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to the label. Kool & the Gang participated in the project.<ref name=arizona1987 />Template:Sfn In 1985, Bell said the group retained control of their own business affairs, avoiding to hire management on a full-time basis and preferring to hire consultants and agents for each project or a single term.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The group's seventeenth album, Forever, was released in November 1986. The album included two hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Victory" (US #10, R&B #2) and "Stone Love" (US #10, R&B #4). Two further singles, "Holiday" and "Special Way" were also released from the album; the former reached the top ten on the R&B Chart, the latter hit reached No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart.<ref>{{#ifeq: | yes | https://www.allmusic.com/album/r11168{{ 

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}}</ref> By 1986, the group had scored 14 top 40 singles in the US since 1980, more than Michael Jackson.<ref name=ebony1986>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In July 1986, the group recorded a special version of "Celebration" with different vocals that was used in an advertisement for Wendy's.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1987, the group completed a 50-city tour of the US. The tour included the group establishing their own public service program, devised by Robert Bell and Taylor, which encouraged school children to pursue education, giving free tickets to those with perfect attendance.<ref name=henderson1987>Template:Cite news</ref> The group rehearsed their stage show with a choreographer at Prince's studio at Paisley Park.<ref name=courier1987 /> At the time of the tour's start, the group ceased producing adverts with Schlitz beer because of their new image towards children and that they felt it had run its course.<ref name=dispatch1987>Template:Cite news</ref> After the tour, Taylor left Kool & the Gang to pursue a solo career. He returned in 1996 for their State of Affairs album.

1988–present: Later careerEdit

In February 1988, news of Taylor's departure from the group to pursue a solo career was reported in the press.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=RS2009 /> The group had discussed pursuing solo projects during the previous year, with Thomas suggesting the band had considered splitting into twos or threes.<ref name=dispatch1987 /> Taylor was replaced by three vocalists: Sennie "Skip" Martin, Odeen Mays, and Gary Brown.

In 1989 the group's 18th album Sweat was released. By that time Khalis Bayyan and Robert "Spike" Mickens also had departed the group. The album did not fare well. Unite, the group's nineteenth studio album, was released in 1992. It marked the return of Khalis Bayyan to the group. In 1995, Taylor returned to the group for State of Affairs (1996), hailed as the group's "comeback" album.<ref name=RS2009 /> All of the songs on the album were written by Khalis Bayyan and Taylor. Taylor left the group for the second time in 1999.

On their next studio album Gangland (2001), Kool & the Gang pursued elements of hip hop. The album was a compilation of rappers backed by Kool and the Gang remaking some of the group's songs. During 2003 the group was given a Mobo Award for Outstanding Achievement.<ref name=MoboAward>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> In 2004 they released another album featuring remakes and some new songs. The Hits Reloaded contained collaborations with artists such as Atomic Kitten, Lisa Stansfield and Jamiroquai. The album reached No. 21 on the UK R&B Albums chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During 2007 the group released another album entitled Still Kool. The album reached No. 31 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Still Kool has also been certified Platinum in France by the SNEP.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2012, Bell accepted Van Halen singer David Lee Roth's invitation for Kool & the Gang to be the opening act during their A Different Kind of Truth Tour as Roth had noticed a significant portion of their concert audience were women. Roth wanted the group after seeing their set at Glastonbury.<ref name=atlanticweekly2012>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2013 the group released a Christmas album Kool for the Holidays. That was the group's 24th studio album.<ref name="RS2009" />

In 2015, 50 years after formation, the group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During that year they were also inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Trombonist Clifford Alanza Adams Jr. died in January 2015 at the age of 62 after a year-long battle with cancer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Adams, who had been with Kool & the Gang since 1977, had no health insurance to cover medical expenses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, a Jersey City street was renamed the "Kool and the Gang Way".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During 2019, Kool and the Gang was also bestowed with the Marian Anderson Award.<ref name="MarianAndersonAward" />

Saxophonist Ronald "Khalis Bayyan" Bell died suddenly in September 2020; the cause of death was not announced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2021, the group released Perfect Union, their 25th studio album and first album of new material in 14 years. The album was produced by Khalis Bayyan before his 2020 death.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Alto saxophonist Dennis "D.T." Thomas died in his sleep on August 7, 2021, at the age of 70.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DT BBC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On November 20, 2022, the group performed a special live concert at the naming ceremony for the newly christened Carnival Celebration, notably performing “Celebration” as a nod to the newest addition to the Carnival fleet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Drummer George “Funky” Brown died from lung cancer on November 16, 2023, at the age of 74.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kool & the Gang were selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2024.<ref name="rrhof24">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="hofgreene" /> They were officially inducted by rapper Chuck D (of Public Enemy) at the ceremony in October. The band, backed by the Roots, reunited with former singer James "JT" Taylor at the induction ceremony and performed a medley of their hit songs including "Get Down on it", "Jungle Boogie", "Hollywood Swinging", "Ladies' Night", and "Celebration"<ref name="R&RHOF induction 2024 RS 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="R&RHOF induction 2024 CBS AP 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Longtime Kool & the Gang stylist and choreographer Michael Sumler, who opened concerts for the group since 1985 and was widely known as "Chicago Mike", died in a car crash in Cobb County, Georgia, on May 24, 2025, at the age of 71.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Music appearancesEdit

The group's music has been featured in several movies and video games:

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PersonnelEdit

Current members

  • Robert "Kool" Bell – bass, backing vocals (1964–present)
  • Curtis "Fitz" Williams – keyboards, backing vocals (1982–1988, 1995–present); alto saxophone (2021–present)
  • Shawn "Shawny Mac" McQuiller – vocals, guitar (1991–present)
  • Amir Bayyan (Kevin Bell) – lead guitar, keyboards (1995–1996, 2006–present; touring member 1975–1980)
  • Timothy Horton – drums, percussion (1998–present)
  • Curtis Pulliam – trumpet, backing vocals (2013–2016, 2024–present)
  • Jermaine Bryson – trombone, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • Walt Anderson – vocals, keyboards (2016–present)
  • Rick Marcel – guitar, bass, backing vocals (2017–present)
  • Louis "Nicky" Taylor – tenor saxophone, backing vocals (2023–present)

Former members

  • George "Funky" Brown – drums (1964–1998), keyboards (1989–1993, 1998–2023), percussion, backing vocals (1964–2023; his death)
  • Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1964–2021; his death)
  • Claydes Charles Smith – guitar (1964–2006; his death)
  • Ronald Bell – tenor saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals (1964–1989, 1992–2020; his death)
  • Ricky Westfield – keyboards, vocals (1964–1976; died 1985)
  • Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet, backing vocals (1964–1986; died 2010)
  • Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow – rhythm and lead guitar (1964–1969; his death)
  • Larry Gittens – trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals, keyboards (1975–1977, 1986–1988, session/touring 2000–2013)
  • Otha Nash – trombone (1975–1977; died 2003)
  • Kevin Lassiter – keyboards, vocals (1976–1979)
  • Clifford Adams – trombone, backing vocals (1980–1995; session/touring 1977–1980, 1995–2015; his death)
  • James "J.T." Taylor – vocals (1979–1988, 1996–1999; one-off guest in 2024)
  • Sir Earl Toon – keyboards, vocals (1979–1982)
  • Michael Ray – trumpet, backing vocals (1979–1991, 2007–2023)
  • Gary Brown – vocals (1988–1990)
  • Sennie "Skip" Martin – trumpet, vocals (1988–1995; session/touring 1995–2007)
  • Odeen Mays – keyboards, guitar, vocals (1988–1995)
  • Gerald Harris – keyboards, guitar (1992–1995)

Former session/touring musicians

  • Donald Boyce – vocals (1973–1976)
  • Royal Bayyan – guitar (1978–1987)
  • Mark Blakey – drums (1988–1989)
  • Robert "Robbie G" Goble – drums, percussion (1989–1993)
  • Bernard Davis - drums (touring 1995)
  • Louis Van Taylor – tenor saxophone, backing vocals (2020–2023; touring substitute for Ronald Bell 1996–2017)
  • Frank "Rusty" Hamilton – keyboards (1996–2005)
  • Rodney "King" Ellis – vocals (2000–2007)
  • Jirmad "Soul-O" Gordon – vocals (2007–2010)
  • Lavell Evans – vocals, percussion (2009–2023)
  • Ravi Best – trumpet, backing vocals (2016–2024)
  • Shelley Carrol – tenor saxophone (touring substitute for Ronald Bell 2017–2020)
  • Aaron Haggerty – drums, percussion (touring substitute 2017, 2024)

Rick West, the group's original keyboardist, who left in 1976 to form his own band, died in 1985.

Guitarist Charles Smith died after a long illness in 2006 and was replaced by the Bells' youngest brother, Amir Bayyan, former leader of the Kay Gees.

Original trumpet player Robert "Spike" Mickens, who retired in 1986 due to poor health, died at the age of 59 on November 2, 2010, at a nursing home in Far Rockaway, New York.

Trombonist Clifford Alanza Adams Jr. died in January 2015 at the age of 62 after a year-long battle with cancer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Adams, who had been with Kool & the Gang since 1977, had no health insurance to cover medical expenses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Saxophonist Ronald "Khalis Bayyan" Bell died suddenly in September 2020; the cause of death was not announced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Alto saxophonist Dennis "D.T." Thomas died in his sleep on August 7, 2021, at the age of 70.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DT BBC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Drummer George “Funky” Brown died from lung cancer on November 16, 2023, at the age of 74.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:5 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1964 till:01/01/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:7 start:1964 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1964

Colors = 

id:vocals  value:red          legend:Vocals
id:trumpet value:yelloworange legend:Trumpet
id:sax     value:skyblue      legend:Saxophone
id:bone    value:coral        legend:Trombone
id:guitar  value:green        legend:Guitar
id:keys    value:purple       legend:Keyboards
id:bass    value:blue         legend:Bass
id:drums   value:orange       legend:Drums
id:perc    value:claret       legend:Percussion
id:album   value:black        legend:Studio_album
id:bars    value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

BarData= 

bar:Donald   text:Donald Boyce
bar:JT       text:James "J.T." Taylor
bar:Gary     text:Gary Brown
bar:Shawn    text:Shawn McQuiller
bar:Rodney   text:Rodney Ellis
bar:Jirmad   text:Jirmad Gordon
bar:Lavell   text:Lavell Evans
bar:Walt     text:Walt Anderson
bar:Spike    text:Spike Mickens
bar:Larry    text:Larry Gittens
bar:Michael  text:Michael Ray
bar:Skip     text:Skip Martin
bar:CPul     text:Curtis Pulliam
bar:Ravi     text:Ravi Best
bar:DT       text:Dennis Thomas
bar:Ronald   text:Ronald Bell
bar:Louis    text:Louis Van Taylor
bar:Shelley  text:Shelley Carrol
bar:Otha     text:Otha Nash
bar:Clifford text:Clifford Adams
bar:Jermaine text:Jermaine Bryson
bar:Charles  text:Charles Smith
bar:Woody    text:Woody Sparrow
bar:Amir     text:Amir Bayyan
bar:Royal    text:Royal Bayyan
bar:Gerald   text:Gerald Harris
bar:Rick     text:Rick Marcel
bar:Ricky    text:Ricky West
bar:Kevin    text:Kevin Lassiter
bar:Earl     text:Sir Earl Toon
bar:Fitz     text:Curtis Williams
bar:Odeen    text:Odeen Mays
bar:Rusty    text:Rusty Hamilton
bar:Kool     text:Robert "Kool" Bell
bar:George   text:George Brown
bar:Mark     text:Mark Blakley
bar:Robbie   text:Robert Goble
bar:Tim      text:Tim Horton

PlotData= 

width:13
 bar:Kool     from:01/01/1964   till:end         color:bass
 bar:George   from:01/01/1964   till:01/01/1998  color:drums
 bar:George   from:09/01/1988   till:01/01/1993  color:keys   width:7
 bar:George   from:01/01/1998   till:11/16/2023  color:keys
 bar:George   from:01/01/1998   till:03/01/2005  color:drums width:7
 bar:DT       from:01/01/1964   till:08/07/2021  color:sax
 bar:Ronald   from:01/01/1964   till:06/01/1989  color:sax
 bar:Ronald   from:01/01/1992   till:09/09/2020  color:sax
 bar:Charles  from:01/01/1964   till:06/20/2006  color:guitar
 bar:Woody    from:01/01/1964   till:12/01/1969  color:guitar
 bar:Spike    from:01/01/1964   till:12/01/1986  color:trumpet
 bar:Ricky    from:01/01/1964   till:11/01/1976  color:keys
 bar:Donald   from:01/01/1973   till:01/01/1976  color:vocals
 bar:Larry    from:01/01/1975   till:11/01/1977  color:trumpet
 bar:Otha     from:01/01/1975   till:11/01/1977  color:bone
 bar:Kevin    from:11/01/1976   till:01/01/1979  color:keys
 bar:Clifford from:01/01/1977   till:01/01/2015  color:bone
 bar:Michael  from:11/01/1980   till:06/01/1989  color:trumpet
 bar:Michael  from:01/01/2007   till:end         color:trumpet
 bar:JT       from:01/01/1979   till:01/01/1988  color:vocals
 bar:JT       from:01/01/1995   till:12/31/1999  color:vocals
 bar:Earl     from:01/01/1979   till:01/01/1982  color:keys
 bar:Fitz     from:01/01/1982   till:06/01/1988  color:keys
 bar:Larry    from:12/01/1986   till:01/01/1990  color:trumpet
 bar:Skip     from:01/01/1988   till:01/01/2007  color:trumpet
 bar:Odeen    from:06/01/1988   till:06/01/1995  color:keys
 bar:Odeen    from:06/01/1988   till:06/01/1995  color:guitar width:7
 bar:Rusty from:01/01/1996 till:03/01/2005 color:keys
 bar:Gary     from:01/01/1988   till:01/01/1990  color:vocals
 bar:Shawn    from:01/01/1991   till:01/01/1995  color:vocals
 bar:Shawn    from:01/01/1995   till:12/31/1999  color:guitar
 bar:Shawn    from:12/31/1999   till:end         color:vocals
 bar:Gerald   from:01/01/1992   till:01/01/1995  color:guitar
 bar:Louis    from:01/01/1996   till:10/01/2017  color:sax width:3
 bar:Louis    from:08/01/2020   till:end         color:sax
 bar:Fitz     from:12/01/1995   till:08/07/2021         color:keys
 bar:Mark     from:09/01/1988   till:01/01/1989  color:drums
 bar:Robbie   from:01/01/1989   till:01/01/1993  color:drums
 bar:Larry    from:01/01/2000   till:01/01/2013  color:trumpet
 bar:Amir     from:01/01/1975   till:01/01/1981         color:guitar width:3
bar:Royal from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1984 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Amir     from:06/20/2006   till:end         color:guitar
 bar:Tim      from:01/01/1998   till:end         color:drums
 bar:Rodney   from:01/01/2000   till:08/01/2007  color:vocals
 bar:Jirmad   from:03/01/2007   till:06/01/2010  color:vocals
 bar:Lavell   from:01/01/2009   till:end         color:vocals
 bar:Jermaine from:01/01/2015   till:end         color:bone
 bar:Walt     from:07/01/2016   till:end         color:vocals
 bar:CPul from:01/01/2013 till:06/01/2016 color:trumpet
 bar:CPul from:01/01/2024 till:end color:trumpet
 bar:Ravi     from:06/01/2016   till:01/01/2024         color:trumpet
 bar:Shelley  from:10/01/2017   till:08/01/2020  color:sax width:3
 bar:Rick     from:10/01/2017   till:end         color:guitar
 bar:Walt from:01/01/2023 till:end color:keys
 bar:Fitz     from:08/07/2021   till:end         color:sax

width:3
 bar:George   from:01/01/1964   till:11/16/2023  color:perc
 bar:Ronald   from:01/01/1964   till:06/01/1989  color:keys
 bar:Ronald   from:01/01/1992   till:09/09/2020  color:keys
 bar:Ricky    from:01/01/1964   till:11/01/1976  color:vocals
 bar:Kevin    from:11/01/1976   till:01/01/1979  color:vocals
 bar:Earl     from:01/01/1979   till:01/01/1982  color:vocals
 bar:Otha     from:01/01/1975   till:11/01/1977  color:vocals
 bar:Larry    from:12/01/1986   till:01/01/1990  color:keys
 bar:Skip     from:01/01/1988   till:01/01/2007  color:vocals
 bar:Odeen    from:06/01/1988   till:06/01/1995  color:vocals
 bar:Robbie   from:01/01/1989   till:01/01/1993  color:perc
 bar:Shawn    from:01/01/1991   till:01/01/1995  color:guitar
 bar:Shawn    from:12/31/1999   till:end         color:guitar
 bar:Gerald   from:01/01/1992   till:01/01/1995  color:keys
 bar:Tim      from:01/01/1998   till:end         color:perc
 bar:Lavell   from:01/01/2009   till:end         color:perc
 bar:Rick     from:10/01/2017   till:end         color:bass
 bar:Fitz     from:08/07/2021   till:end         color:keys
 bar:Walt from:07/01/2016 till:01/01/2023 color:keys
 bar:Walt from:01/01/2023 till:end color:vocals width:3

LineData= 

 at:12/01/1969 layer:back
 at:07/01/1972
 at:11/01/1972
 at:09/01/1973
 at:09/01/1974
 at:08/01/1975
 at:03/01/1976
 at:11/01/1976
 at:06/01/1977
 at:06/01/1978
 at:09/06/1979
 at:09/29/1980
 at:09/24/1981
 at:09/07/1982
 at:11/21/1983
 at:11/15/1984
 at:11/03/1986
 at:06/01/1989
 at:11/22/1992
 at:07/03/1996
 at:08/28/2001
 at:04/21/2004
 at:06/25/2007
 at:11/05/2013
 at:08/20/2021
 at:07/14/2023

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Studio albums Template:Div col

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ReferencesEdit

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SourcesEdit

External linksEdit

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  • Interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul, November 2010

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