Kool & The Gang

Kool & the Gang
Kool & The Gang
Background information
Origin	Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Jazz Funk Soul Disco Boogie Dance-pop Contemporary R&B
Years active	1969–present
Labels	De-Lite, Mercury
Members	Robert "Kool" Bell Ronald Bell (Khalis Bayyan) George Brown Clifford Adams Sonnie "Skip" Martin Shawn McQuiller Rodney Ellis Jirmad Gordon and Curtis "Fitz" Williams
Past member(s)	James "J.T." Taylor Rick Westfield (deceased) Claydes Charles Smith (deceased) Robert "Spike" Mickens (deceased) Dennis Thomas (deceased)
Website	www.koolandthegang.com

Kool & The Gang is a crossover R&B-pop band from Jersey City, USA. They were formed in 1964 as a jazz band called The Jazziacs. In 1969 they signed to De-Lite Records and published their self-named album.

In late 1970s they switched from pure deep funk to disco and they were more successful.

In band there is Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas, Robert Mickens, Clifford Adams, James Taylor, Sonnie Martin, Rodney Ellis, Jirmad Gordon, and Shawn McQuiller. Former band members included the breakout singer James "J.T." Taylor ,who had a successful solo career.

Their song "Jungle Boogie" appears in 1994 movie Pulp Fiction.

Discography

Albums

• 1975: Spirit of the Boogie (US #48)
• 1979: Ladies Night (US #13)
• 1981: Something Special (US #12, UK #10)
• 1983: In The Heart (US #29, UK #18)
• 1984: Emergency (US #13)

Songs

• 1974: "Jungle Boogie" (US #4, US R&B #2)
• 1974: "Hollywood Swinging" (US #4, US R&B #2)
• 1979: "Ladies' Night" (US #8, US R&B #1, UK #9)
• 1980: "Celebration" (US #1, US R&B #1, UK #7)
• 1981: "Get Down On It" (US #10, US R&B #4, UK #3)
• 1982: "Hi-De-Hi, Hi-De-Ho" (UK #29)
• 1984: "Tonight" (US #13, US R&B #1)
• 1985: "Fresh" (US #9, US R&B #1, UK #11)