Kool & the Gang
Kool & The Gang are an American soul, funk and disco band that has sold more than 70 million records worldwide.
History
The germ of its success was in 1964 at Lincoln High School in New Jersey, United States placed. The brothers Robert ( born October 8, 1950 in Youngstown, Ohio) and Ronald Bell ( * November 1, 1951 also in Youngstown, Ohio) came together for the band called Jazziacs and motivated her classmates George Brown, Claydes Charles Smith ( † 2006) and Dennis Thomas to join. The group initially played jazz, but soon switched to soul music.
After five years of session work and some stylistic line-up changes, the band named itself after 1969 Kool & The Gang. Robert Bell's nickname " Kool " was named godfather. With soulful disco funk climbed Kool & The Gang in the 1970s and 1980s, regularly the charts. 1979, the group managed with the title Ladies' Night of the great international success. 25 Times made it their singles in the top ten. On their albums, they received 31 gold and platinum awards, and double platinum in 1985 for the LP Emergency. The Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato contributed significantly to this success. Horns, the Disco foundation and the vocal lines were typical of other hits of the group as fresh, Celebration or Joanna.
The mid-1980s ebbed, the success of the group and the title Cherish (1985 ) marked the incision as the last great hit. 1988 left lead singer James Taylor, the group, and thus ended the winning streak. Subsequent productions of the band landed in the middle of the charts. The end of the disco era allowed their songs to contemporary tastes according pleasing and be less stressed rhythm.
Since the 1990s, they can harvest an extended tour work the fruits of their earlier years. The Bell brothers are active as producers next in some pop projects. 1995 James Taylor came back for a recording to Kool & The Gang.
For the 40th anniversary in 2004 the album was The Hits: Reloaded by Kool & The Gang put on the market.
On 20 June 2006 lead guitarist Claydes Charles Smith died at the age of 57 years. According to his spokesperson, he died in Maplewood (New Jersey) a serious illness. He is buried at the Fairview Cemetery of Westfield (New Jersey).
Discography
Studio albums
Awards
- American Music Award in the category Best Soul Group (1981, 1983, 1984, 1987)
- American Music Award in the category Best Video (1984 for Emergency, 1987, Victory )