Kool & the Gang: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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The group's main members over the years included brothers [[Robert 'Kool' Bell|Robert Bell]] (known as "Kool") on bass (born [[October 8]], [[1950]], [[Youngstown, Ohio]]) and [[Ronald Bell (musician)|Ronald Bell]] on tenor saxophone (born [[November 1]], [[1951]], Youngstown, Ohio); [[George Brown (musician)|George Brown]] on drums (born [[January 5]], [[1949]]); |
The group's main members over the years included brothers [[Robert 'Kool' Bell|Robert Bell]] (known as "Kool") on bass (born [[October 8]], [[1950]], [[Youngstown, Ohio]]) and [[Ronald Bell (musician)|Ronald Bell]] on tenor saxophone (born [[November 1]], [[1951]], Youngstown, Ohio); [[George Brown (musician)|George Brown]] on drums (born [[January 5]], [[1949]]); Robert Mickens on trumpet; Dennis Thomas on alto saxophone; Two Fingers Mikiel on tuba; [[Claydes Charles Smith]] on guitar (born [[September 6]], [[1948]], died [[June 20]], [[2006]] of AIDS), and Rick Westfield on keyboards. The Bell brothers' father was an acquaintance of [[Thelonious Monk]] and the brothers were friends with [[Leon Thomas]]. [[Image:KoolAndTheGangCollage-1000.jpg|thumb|320px|Kool & The Gang in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, [[June 3]], [[2006]].]] |
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In 1964 Robert formed an instrumental band called the Jazziacs with five high school friends. They changed their name to Kool & the Gang and were signed by Gene Redd to his then new [[De-Lite Records]]. They first hit the pop charts with the release of their debut, [[Kool and the Gang (album)|eponymous album]]. |
In 1964 Robert formed an instrumental band called the Jazziacs with five high school friends. They changed their name to Kool & the Gang and were signed by Gene Redd to his then new [[De-Lite Records]]. They first hit the pop charts with the release of their debut, [[Kool and the Gang (album)|eponymous album]]. |
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The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended — after new lead singer [[James "J.T." Taylor]] joined the group — with 1979's ''[[Ladies' Night (album)|Ladies' Night]]'', the [[Ladies' Night (song)|title track]] from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of [[ladies' night]]s in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. Their only #1 hit was 1980s "[[Celebration (song)|Celebration]]", off ''[[Celebrate!]]'', produced by [[Eumir Deodato]]. More international hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun", "[[Get Down on It]]" and "Joanna". Their 1984 album ''[[Emergency (album)|Emergency]]'' yielded four top 20 hits, including "Fresh" and "Cherish." Their chart presence stopped abruptly after the ''[[Forever (Kool and the Gang album)|Forever]]'' album, when both Taylor and Ronald Bell (who started using the name Khalis Bayyan) left the group; both would eventually return, but the hits would not. |
The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended — after new lead singer [[James "J.T." Taylor]] joined the group — with 1979's ''[[Ladies' Night (album)|Ladies' Night]]'', the [[Ladies' Night (song)|title track]] from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of [[ladies' night]]s in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. Their only #1 hit was 1980s "[[Celebration (song)|Celebration]]", off ''[[Celebrate!]]'', produced by [[Eumir Deodato]]. More international hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun", "[[Get Down on It]]" and "Joanna". Their 1984 album ''[[Emergency (album)|Emergency]]'' yielded four top 20 hits, including "Fresh" and "Cherish." Their chart presence stopped abruptly after the ''[[Forever (Kool and the Gang album)|Forever]]'' album, when both Taylor and Ronald Bell (who started using the name Khalis Bayyan) left the group; both would eventually return, but the hits would not. |
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Kool and the Gang rose to some popularity again in 1994 after "Jungle Boogie" was featured on the soundtrack of [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s hit cult classic ''[[Pulp Fiction (film)|Pulp Fiction]]''. |
Kool and the Gang rose to some popularity again in 1994 after "Jungle Boogie" was featured on the soundtrack of [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s hit cult classic ''[[Pulp Fiction (film)|Pulp Fiction]]''. Currently, the band is in the studio recording a new album, for release in 2007. |
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"Hollywood Swinging" was also used by Jon Arons in his dance/trombone number on "Steve Harvey Show" thus earning him the title, "The Trombone Guy." |
"Hollywood Swinging" was also used by Jon Arons in his dance/trombone number on "Steve Harvey Show" thus earning him the title, "The Trombone Guy." |
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"Hollywood Swinging" was also sampled by [[DJ Kool]] in his song "[[Let Me Clear My Throat]]". |
"Hollywood Swinging" was also sampled by [[DJ Kool]] in his song "[[Let Me Clear My Throat]]". |
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Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness" off their 1974 album "Light of Worlds" has been sampled numerous times. |
Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness" off their 1974 album "Light of Worlds" has been sampled numerous times. Most notably, it was used by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince for their version of "Summertime" as well as being featured in the [[1976]] smash hit ''[[Rocky]]''. More recently, |
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Also, [[Live at PJ's]]' track "N.T" has been sampled extensively, by artists such as [[Boogie Down Productions]], [[Brand Nubian]], [[De La Soul]], [[N.W.A]] and [[Kriss Kross]]. |
Also, [[Live at PJ's]]' track "N.T" has been sampled extensively, by artists such as [[Boogie Down Productions]], [[Brand Nubian]], [[De La Soul]], [[N.W.A]] and [[Kriss Kross]]. |
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==References in Pop Culture== |
==References in Pop Culture== |
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*The song "Hollywood Swinging" was featured on the fictional [[funk]]/[[disco]] radio station Bounce FM in the |
*The song "Hollywood Swinging" was featured on the fictional [[funk]]/[[disco]] radio station Bounce FM in the 2004 popular video game [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]. |
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*The song "Summer Madness" served as the background music to [[The LeBrons]] 'Swimming Pool' [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] shoe commercial and also appeared in the video games [[Tony Hawk's Project 8]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]. |
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*In a 2004 episode of [[The Simpsons]], [[Dr. Hibbert]] says he should keep his eyes on the road, and off his Kool & The Gang mirror ornament, after hitting a neighborhood cat. |
*In a 2004 episode of [[The Simpsons]], [[Dr. Hibbert]] says he should keep his eyes on the road, and off his Kool & The Gang mirror ornament, after hitting a neighborhood cat. |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
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Revision as of 06:02, 5 March 2008
Kool & the Gang |
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Kool & the Gang is a highly successful American jazz/R&B/soul/funk/disco group. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA in 1964. They went through several musical phases in their career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, becoming practitioners of R&B and funk, progressing to a smooth disco ensemble, and ended the successful period of their career producing pop/R&B crossovers.
History
The group's main members over the years included brothers Robert Bell (known as "Kool") on bass (born October 8, 1950, Youngstown, Ohio) and Ronald Bell on tenor saxophone (born November 1, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio); George Brown on drums (born January 5, 1949); Robert Mickens on trumpet; Dennis Thomas on alto saxophone; Two Fingers Mikiel on tuba; Claydes Charles Smith on guitar (born September 6, 1948, died June 20, 2006 of AIDS), and Rick Westfield on keyboards. The Bell brothers' father was an acquaintance of Thelonious Monk and the brothers were friends with Leon Thomas.
In 1964 Robert formed an instrumental band called the Jazziacs with five high school friends. They changed their name to Kool & the Gang and were signed by Gene Redd to his then new De-Lite Records. They first hit the pop charts with the release of their debut, eponymous album.
Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Many reviews see 1975 album The Spirit of the Boogie as the greatest achievement of the band. However, after that album the band abandoned deep funk-music and switched to disco. Generally, the albums released after 1975 have not received the same critical recognition as their early work.
The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended — after new lead singer James "J.T." Taylor joined the group — with 1979's Ladies' Night, the title track from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of ladies' nights in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. Their only #1 hit was 1980s "Celebration", off Celebrate!, produced by Eumir Deodato. More international hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun", "Get Down on It" and "Joanna". Their 1984 album Emergency yielded four top 20 hits, including "Fresh" and "Cherish." Their chart presence stopped abruptly after the Forever album, when both Taylor and Ronald Bell (who started using the name Khalis Bayyan) left the group; both would eventually return, but the hits would not.
Kool and the Gang rose to some popularity again in 1994 after "Jungle Boogie" was featured on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit cult classic Pulp Fiction. Currently, the band is in the studio recording a new album, for release in 2007.
"Hollywood Swinging" was also used by Jon Arons in his dance/trombone number on "Steve Harvey Show" thus earning him the title, "The Trombone Guy."
"Hollywood Swinging" was also sampled by DJ Kool in his song "Let Me Clear My Throat".
Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness" off their 1974 album "Light of Worlds" has been sampled numerous times. Most notably, it was used by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince for their version of "Summertime" as well as being featured in the 1976 smash hit Rocky. More recently, Also, Live at PJ's' track "N.T" has been sampled extensively, by artists such as Boogie Down Productions, Brand Nubian, De La Soul, N.W.A and Kriss Kross.
References in Pop Culture
- The song "Hollywood Swinging" was featured on the fictional funk/disco radio station Bounce FM in the 2004 popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- The song "Summer Madness" served as the background music to The LeBrons 'Swimming Pool' Nike shoe commercial and also appeared in the video games Tony Hawk's Project 8 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
- In a 2004 episode of The Simpsons, Dr. Hibbert says he should keep his eyes on the road, and off his Kool & The Gang mirror ornament, after hitting a neighborhood cat.
Discography
See also
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
External links
- koolandthegang.com - the official homepage
- Soul Bible - Hi de Hi, Hi de Ho