For you music aficionados out there, "Kool & the Gang" co-founder Ronald Bell has passed away at age 68. Along with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell, the pair founded one of the iconic "party" funk bands of the 1970's & 80"s, Kool & the Gang. For you guys too young to remember, Kool & the Gang is responsible for many of the "good time" songs recorded during the 1970's and 80's. Here's just a few:
- Celebration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M
- Ladies Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjG7-5kbevo
- Get down on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qchPLaiKocI
- Jungle Boogie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BM5wPOe0xQ
- Hollywood Swinging https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK-cvcw3ngM
- Joanna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsklsxReSe0
Kool & the Gang's portfolio of music includes 23 studio albums and 70 singles. But they were more than just a 70's band. By 1986, the band had scored 14 top 40 singles in the US since 1980, even more than Michael Jackson.
Like many, I loved listening to the music of these 1970's "Funk" bands. Along with Kool & the Gang, others included The Ohio Players, The Commodores (which spawned Lionel Richie), Earth Wind & Fire, etc... I even took my wife and daughter to an Earth Wind and Fire concert in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena about 2 years ago. They loved it. And EW&F was still packing 'em in. Had about 8K to 10K in attendance that night.
RIP Ronald Bell.