Kool & The Gang Honored with the 2,560th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of RECORDING
By Clinton H. Wallace, 9:53 p.m October 8th 2015 @clintonhwallace
New Jersey has done it again, on October 8, 2015 The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proudly presented Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Khalis Bell, Dennis “DT” Thomas and George Brown of Kool & The Gang with the 2,560th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Guest who were on hand to assist the band with the unveiling of their star were emcee Leron Gubler producer Vincent Herbert and musicians Ray Parker Jr and Jermaine Jackson.
“Kool & the Gang and their signature sounds will bring back great memories to music lovers everywhere!” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies. “Their music career has been a part of the lives of many generations everywhere and fans will be singing and dancing along with Kool & The Gang’s music for many, many more years.”
It all began in 1964 in New Jersey when Jersey City teenagers Robert “Kool” Bell and his brother Ronald Bell joined neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, George Brown, Ricky Westfield, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, and Claydes “Charles” Smith to create the Kool & the Gang sound – a unique blend of jazz, soul and funk. Throughout the seventies, this blend produced a string of hits including “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Funky Stuff,” and “Summer Madness”. In 1979, the group entered the pop market by incorporating the smooth sounds of vocalist James “JT” Taylor along with their infectious formula for making hits.
During the eighties the musical flow continued with a steady stream of hit songs such as “Ladies Night,” “Get Down on It,” “Joanna,” and the theme song to parties worldwide, “Celebration.” prompted American DJ Casey Kasem to name Kool & the Gang the band of the eighties, solidifying Kool & the Gang’s musical legacy. During the 90’s Madonna, Janet Jackson, the Beastie Boys Cypress Hill, and Puff Daddy as well as a plethora of hip-hop artist and DJs all sampled Kool & The Gang’s drum beats, bass, guitar and signature horn lines making them on of the most sampled bands of that decade. The band has sold over 70-million albums worldwide to date; and has earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 31 Gold and Platinum albums, 25 Top Ten R&B hits and nine Top Ten pop hits. Their music has been featured on the soundtracks of many hit films such as Rocky, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Wreck-It Ralph. Having toured with the likes of Kid Rock, Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, The Roots, and Van Halen, the band still has an active travel and tour schedule.
Kool & The Gang supports a variety of charitable organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of America, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Susan G. Komen Foundation and United Negro College Fund.
Kool & The Gang are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary and a career that has stood the test of time their timeless hits have spanned several decades and provided worldwide musical influence for three generations and on October 22, 2015 their home state will recognize this gifted band with an induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Kool & the Gang are true American musical icons.
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