Formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-’60s, Kool & the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the ’70s, and one of the most popular R&B groups of the ’80s after their breakout hit “Celebration.” Just as funky as James Brown or Parliament (and sampled almost as frequently), Kool & the Gang relied on their jazz backgrounds and long friendship to form a tightly knit group.

 Their 21 Top 40 hits display a huge range, from the tough funk of “Jungle Boogie,” to the smooth instrumental soul of “Summer Madness,” to the lively pop of “Joanna.” They hit the Top Ten of the R&B chart with several albums that include the gold Wild and Peaceful in 1973, the all platinum Ladies’ Night in 79, Celebrate in 80, Something Special in 81 and Emergency in 84.  

Since the ’90s, Kool & The Gang have focused most on touring, but they’ve released several original albums during this time too – the latest of which is People Just Wanna Have Fun in 2023.

Our guest today is ROBERT ‘KOOL’ BELL who with his brother Ronald, founded the group. The boys grew up in Jersey City and picked up the music bug from their father, who was a professional boxer. The duo formed the Jazziacs in 1964 with several neighbourhood friends: they soon renamed themselves the Soul Town Band and began playing
clubs in Greenwich Village.

After a mix-up with a club owner resulted in the group being billed Kool & the Flames, (and in order to not offend James Brown) they changed their name to Kool & the Gang and quickly became a success on the R&B charts.

It was with their 6th album, Wild and Peaceful that Kool & the Gang hit the big time. “Funky Stuff” became their first Top 40 hit at the end of 1973. Then both “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging” reached the
Top Ten. Over the next four years, Kool & the Gang delivered a Grammy-nominated recording and scored several Top 40 hits. Their hit “Open Sesame appeared on the Grammy-winning film soundtrack Saturday Night Fever.  However, after this, the rise of disco stalled their popularity.

In 1979, the group added two new vocalists, Earl Toon Jr and former Jersey nightclub singer James J.T Taylor. Kool & the Gang also began
working with Brazilian jazz fusion arranger/producer Eumir Deodato who produced them from 1979 to 1982. Their first album together, Ladies Night  was their biggest hit yet, the first of three consecutive platinum albums, with the Top Ten singles “Too Hot” and the title track. Celebrate was released in 1979 and spawned Kool & the Gang’s only number one hit, “Celebration,” an anthem favoured by thousands at ball games, wedding receptions and even astronauts in space.

The group produced several more hits, including the single “Get Down on It.” Between 1983 and 1985, the band had a pair of number two hits with “Joanna” and “Cherish.”

Kool & The Gang remained a going concern throughout the 2000s, teaming up with many younger artists. Fellow co-founders Ronald Bell and Dennis D.T Thomas both passed away in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The album “Perfect Union” was completed with both musicians and was released during the latter year. It was promoted with extensive touring, including performances in 2022 with the German Philharmonic Orchestra.

Just ahead of their 60thanniversary, Kool & the Gang quickly returned in 2023 with the album “People Just Wanna Have Fun” led by the single “Let’s Party.”

Kool & The Gang remain the most sampled group in the world. Their longevity is a testament to their talents and Robert ‘Kool’
Bell fills us in on all the ins and outs of their journey this week.

For more information about Kool & The Gang head for their website https://www.koolandthegang.com/

Please feel free to send me your comments, feedback or any suggestions for future interviews you’d like to hear. You can reach me through the website https://abreathoffreshair.com.au/

I hope you enjoy this episode.

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Sandy Kaye Sandy Kaye

Hello, I’m Sandy Kaye. A freelance broadcaster, journalist and producer who has spent more than 35 years on both sides of radio and television microphones. I’ve worked with every TV network in Australia, have produced and presented for countless radio stations around the country and have hosted my own commercial radio talk-back show. I’ve even held the distinction of being Sydney’s first female newsreader on radio – way back when!

Today my passion is A Breath of Fresh Air which allows me to immerse myself in one of my favourite things – music. I just love all kinds of music and am fascinated by the people who make it. In particular, it’s the music of the '60s '70s and '80s that takes me back to my youth and means so much to me.

As a journalist, I’m all about digging deep into the classic hits of our time.
I bring you intimate, warm, fireside chats with the artists who tell us about their lives both then and now.
We learn about what makes them tick, who they are in their professional and private lives and how they went about making the soundtrack to our lives.

'A Breath of Fresh Air’ is exceptional - exceptional not because of me, but rather because of the stories that some of the best-known musical artists choose to share with me.

I created this podcast to honour them. It’s all about THEIR lives, THEIR stories, THEIR music, told now, in THEIR voices, before they’re lost forever.

I see my podcast as a personal labour of love, but also as an archival legacy for music fans and practitioners alike, both current and future, who otherwise might never know of the amazing people who helped build the industry.

I really hope you enjoy each and every episode of A Breath of Fresh Air.