Originally formed as a quartet, the Jazziacs, by Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (b. 8 October 1950, Youngstown, Ohio, USA; bass), Robert ‘Spike’ Mickens (b. Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; trumpet), Ronald ‘The Captain’ Bell - later known by his Muslim name Amir Bayyan (b. 1 November 1951, Youngstown, Ohio, USA; saxophone, keyboards) and Dennis ‘D.T.’ Thomas (b. 9 February 1951, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; saxophone). Based in Jersey City, this aspiring jazz group opened for acts such as Pharoah Sanders and Leon Thomas. They were later joined by Charles ‘Claydes’ Smith (b. 6 September 1948, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, d. 20 June 2006, Maplewood, New Jersey, USA; guitar) and ‘Funky’ George Brown (b. 5 January 1949, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; drums), and as the Soul Town Band, moderated their early direction by blending soul and funk, a transition completed by 1969 when they settled on the name Kool And The Gang. The group crossed over into the US pop chart in 1973 and initiated a run of 19 stateside Top 40 hits on their own De-Lite label starting with ‘Funky Stuff’, a feat consolidated the following year with a couple of Top 10 hits, ‘Jungle Boogie’ and ‘Hollywood Swinging’. They continued to enjoy success, although their popularity momentarily wavered in the latter half of the 70s as the prominence of disco strengthened.
In 1979, Kool And The Gang added vocalists James ‘J.T.’ Taylor (b. 16 August 1953, Laurens, South Carolina, USA) and Earl Toon Jnr., with Taylor emerging as the key member in a new era of success for the group, which coincided with their employment of an outside producer. Brazilian Deodato refined the qualities already inherent in the group’s eclectic style and together they embarked on a series of highly successful international hits including ‘Ladies Night’ (1979), ‘Too Hot’ (1980) and the bubbling ‘Celebration’, a 1980 platinum disc and US pop number 1 - later used by the media as the home-coming theme for the returning American hostages from Iran. Outside the USA they achieved parallel success and proved similarly popular in the UK where ‘Get Down On It’ (1981), ‘Joanna’ (1984) and ‘Cherish’ (1985) each reached the Top 5. The arrival of Taylor also saw the group’s albums achieving Top 30 status in their homeland for the first time, with Celebrate! reaching the Top 10 in 1980.
Their longevity was due, in part, to a settled line-up. The original six members remained with the group into the 80s and although newcomer Toon left, Taylor blossomed into an ideal frontman. This core was later supplemented by several auxiliaries, Clifford Adams (trombone) and Michael Ray (trumpet). This idyllic situation was finally undermined by Taylor’s departure in 1988 and he was replaced by three singers, former Dazz Band member Skip Martin plus Odeen Mays and Gary Brown. Taylor released a solo album in 1989, Sister Rosa, while the same year the group continued recording with the album Sweat. The compilation set The Singles Collection captures one of the most engaging and successful of soul/funk catalogues. Taylor rejoined in 1995, but subsequent releases indicated a group well past their sell-by date.
