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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKOOL and the GANGA disco-funk band, began as the Jazziacs in high school in Jersey CIty NJ in the mid-'60s: 19 top 40 pop singles 1973-85. Robert 'Kool' Bell (b 8 October 1950) on bass and vocals, Ronald Bell (b 1 November 1951, both from Youngstown OH) on tenor sax began with Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas (b 9 February 1951, Orlando FL; d 7 August 2021, Montclair NJ) on sax, Robert Mickens on trumpet; lead guitarist Claydes Smith (b 6 September 1948), George 'Funky' Brown on drums (b 5 January 1949, both from NJ) were also long-time members of the group. In an interview in 1973 Thomas said, 'Everybody in the group was a jazz musician at heart, but we knew we had to play R&B to make money.' As the Jazziacs they played at Cafe Wha in Greenwich Village on a bill with Richie Havens; their first single 'Kool And The Gang' made top 20 R&B '69: dance hits derived from Sly Stone style, live LPs Live At The Sex Machine '71, Live At P.J.'s '72, Good Times '73 preceded breakthrough no. 33 LP Wild And Peaceful '74 including three hit singles. Kool Jazz '74 was a compilation; Light Of Worlds '74, Spirit Of The Boogie '75, Love And Understanding were all top 100 LPs, but Open Sesame '76 and The Force '77 were not; they slipped as the disco boom they had anticipated got under way, but added lead vocalist James 'JT' Taylor (b 16 August 1953, SC) and came back with Ladies' Night '79 (produced by Deodato), no. 13 LP with title single no. 1 R&B, top ten pop; Celebrate! '80, no. 10 LP with single 'Celebration' at no. 1 pop (adopted as theme of hostages returning from Iran); Something Special '81, As One '82, In The Heart '83, Emergency '84 all top 30 LPs; Victory included 'I.B.M.C.' ('Itty Bitty Midi Committee') celebrating Ronald's production of LPs since '83 in studio at home. Robert and Taylor bought land '87 on Bouley Island, off the Ivory Coast of Africa, planning to build a studio. They long had their own De-Lite label, but Forever '87 appeared on Mercury, as have CD reissues. Sweat '89 was an attempt to restart the fun, but their moment had gone. |