Kool & The Gang Archives - New Hip Hop News

Kool & The Gang Drummer, George Brown, Passed Away At Age 74

November 17, 2023 by newhiphopnews

George Brown, the legendary drummer and co-founder of Kool & the Gang, has passed away at 74 on Thursday (November 17). Said news came from a Universal Music Enterprises spokesperson, and follows a cancer battle that he ultimately succumbed to. However, the musician’s indelible impact in the genres of funk, soul, and so much more will never vanish, much like that of his bandmate Ronald Bell, who passed away in September 2020. Brown’s passing comes almost exactly sixty years after he and six other friends in Jersey City, New Jersey formed an instrumental soul and jazz group in 1964.

Through various iterations, shifts, and evolutions- which involved name changes, genre switches, incorporating vocals, and more- Kool & the Gang eventually became the legends we celebrate today in 1969. Five years later, George Brown and his companions had fused together their inspirations and references with the new wave of disco through chart-toppers like “Jungle Boogie.” In fact, songs like 1974’s “Hollywood Swinging” continue to be covered and revered today by many artists, most recently BROCKHAMPTON. Even though the following years wouldn’t yield immediate success, it wouldn’t be long until they continued their hit parade.

Kool & The Gang Members Attend Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony In 2015

George Brown Dead Kool Gang Drummer — HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 08: Robert ‘Kool’ Bell, Ronald Khalis Bell, Dennis ‘DT’ Thomas and George Brown of Kool & the Gang attend the ceremony honoring Kool & The Gang with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on October 8, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

For example, there’s the iconic “Celebration,” the band’s only Billboard chart-topper, plus “Get Down On It,” “Joanna,” and many other classics. Through their catalog, Kool & the Gang’s members not only the genres they played in, but the genres that these styles birthed. Hip-hop- and, frankly, popular music at large- samples them everywhere, whether it’s early icons like The Beastie Boys, GOAT contenders like Jay-Z, or gargantuan superstars like Madonna. Thanks to the work of George Brown, saxophonist Dennis Thomas, and every other member, we have songs that are timeless today.

This year, Brown released a memoir titled Too Hot: Kool & the Gang and Me, which goes over his personal story and that of his musical journey with his friends. He always described his music as “the sound of happiness.” The percussion expert is survived by his wife Hanh and his six children: Dorian, Jorge, Gregory, Jordan, Clarence, and Aaron. The Lung Cancer Foundation of America is accepting donations in his honor. For more news and the latest updates on more musical juggernauts, whether young or old, stick around on HNHH.
Rest In Peace George Brown.

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Kool & The Gang Founder George Brown Pens Memoir ‘Too Hot: Kool & The Gang & Me’

May 30, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Founding member of Kool & The Gang, George Brown is set to release his memoir Too Hot: Kool & The Gang & Me on July 11th. As a self-taught drummer and songwriter who has spent six decades making music, touring the world, and navigating fame’s wild ride as an African American trailblazer, this memoir describes his life in and out of the band, including a raucous life on the road as Kool & The Gang’s popularity grew. He weathered the ups and downs of his musical career and navigated many challenges, including prescription drug addiction, depression, and health issues. This inspiring book comes out the same week as Kool & The Gang’s 34th studio album, People Just Wanna Have Fun, celebrating the band’s 60th anniversary next year a little early.

In his book, George shares how his recent cancer scare and subsequent treatment compelled him to share his story to give readers a glimpse into a band whose reputation was considered relatively tame, but in reality, was exactly the opposite. By sharing his cautionary tale of musical life lessons, George hopes to help others realize their own professional and personal dreams for a happy and fulfilled life. Afterall, life is a symphony, and we must all be our own conductor.

Growing up around music, young George was inspired to piece together a makeshift drum set and teach himself to play as he practiced in the dark basement of his rundown New Jersey townhouse. He soon joined forces with his friends to form a group called the Jazziacs which then evolved into Kool & The Gang, a band that began playing clubs and charting hits while its members were still teenagers. By evolving their sound as musical tastes changed, the band was able to stay on the charts for decades, scoring 12 Top 10 hits in Funk, R&B, Pop, and Rock charts, and selling over 70 million albums while navigating the highs and lows of their career. They are currently an in-demand live act touring the world extensively every year.

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Works By Nas, Janet Jackson, And Kermit The Frog Have Been Inducted Into The Library Of Congress

March 24, 2021 by newhiphopnews

Having a work preserved in the National Recording Registry of the Library Of Congress is a significant honor, and now that feat is something a handful of artists can add to their resume. Today, the Library Of Congress announced its 2020 selections for the registry and among the highlights from the world of modern music are Nas’ 1994 album Illmatic and Janet Jackson’s 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814.

Some other notable works include one of the oldest known audio recordings via Thomas Edison, Kermit The Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection,” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World,” Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” Jackson Browne’s Late For The Sky, and the This American Life episode “The Giant Pool Of Money,” which is the first podcast recording to be included in the National Recording Registry.

Librarian Of Congress Carla Hayden said, “The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years. We received about 900 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry, and we welcome the public’s input as the Library Of Congress and its partners preserve the diverse sounds of history and culture.”

Check out the full list of recordings from the 2020 class below.

1. “St. Louis Tinfoil” — Thomas Edison (1878)
2. “Nikolina” — Hjalmar Peterson (1917) (single)
3. “Smyrneikos Balos” — Marika Papagika (1928) (single)
4. “When The Saints Go Marching In” — Louis Armstrong (1938) (single)
5. Christmas Eve Broadcast — FDR & Winston Churchill (Dec. 24, 1941)
6. “The Guiding Light” — Nov. 22, 1945
7. Odetta Sings Ballads And Blues — Odetta (1957) (album)
8. “Lord, Keep Me Day by Day” — Albertina Walker And The Caravans (1959) (single)
9. Roger Maris hits his 61st home run (October 1, 1961)
10. Aida — Leontyne Price, et.al. (1962) (album)
11. “Once A Day” — Connie Smith (1964) (single)
12. Born Under A Bad Sign — Albert King (1967) (album)
13. Free To Be…You & Me — Marlo Thomas And Friends (1972) (album)
14. The Harder They Come — Jimmy Cliff (1972) (album)
15. “Lady Marmalade” — Labelle (1974) (single)
16. Late For The Sky — Jackson Browne (1974) (album)
17. Bright Size Life — Pat Metheny (1976) (album)
18. “The Rainbow Connection” — Kermit The Frog (1979) (single)
19. “Celebration” — Kool & The Gang (1980) (single)
20. Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs — Jessye Norman (1983) (album)
21. Rhythm Nation 1814 — Janet Jackson (1989) (album)
22. Partners — Flaco Jiménez (1992) (album)
23. “Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World” — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1993) (single)
24. Illmatic — Nas (1994) (album)
25. “This American Life: The Giant Pool Of Money” (May 9, 2008)