Written by Tanya Terry
Photo courtesy of FIM
Area residents and visitors can look forward to dancin’ and groovin’ live to the song “Celebration,” the biggest record for the Grammy award-winning group Kool & the Gang, at an upcoming show to be held in Flint. The show will take place September 26 at the at FIM Capitol Theatre.
“We have many songs; we have ‘Ladies’ Night,” said Robert “Kool” Bell, the leader of Kool & the Gang.
He added: “We have ‘Hollywood Swinging,”’ which is being played now on the TV commercial for New Balance. That was a big record for us. Of course, you have ‘Hollywood, California.’ That’s another one of our biggest songs. ‘Jungle Boogie’ is another one. Another one is ‘Summer Madness.’”
Bell said the platinum song “Summertime” by Will Smith was inspired by “Summer Madness.”
Kool & the Gang has been documented as one of hip-hop’s most sampled bands. Examples of some of the hundreds of hit songs that sampled Kool & the Gang’s music also include “Feel So Good” by Mase, “Ladies Night” by Lil’ Kim and Missy, “Don’t Walk Away” by Jade and “Let me clear my throat” by DJ Kool.
Bell talked to the Courier about the band’s exciting journey and their band name ahead of the upcoming show.
The group began in 1964 as the Jazziacs.
“Then we changed the name to the Soul Town Band,” shared Bell. “We went from the Jazziacs to the Soul Town Band because a group called Soul Town is trying to be like Motown. Then, there was a group from Jersey City that called themselves the Soul Town Review. They were trying to be like the Motown Revue. Then, we moved on to Kool & the Flames. You had James Brown and the Famous Flames. So, we didn’t want to have any problems with “the Godfather” with the Flames. So, we changed our name to Kool & the Gang. That was in 1969.”
The group’s album came out the same year and was also called Kool & the Gang.
“Then, we had a single called Kool & the Gang, also in 1969. Then, we had the group. So, everything was Kool & the Gang in 1969.”
Kool & the Gang music awards and accolades include being a Class of 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (April 21, 2024), winning seven American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards and having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The group also received a Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and even has artifacts displayed at The National Museum of African American History Smithsonian Institution Museum, among other honors.
“I just came out with a coconut water a couple months ago, too,” shared Bell. “It’s called Kool King Coconut Water. It comes from Sri Lanka (in South Asia).”
The presenting sponsor of the upcoming concert is the United Way of Genesee County. The organization raises money for KidsTix. KidsTix is a program that helps to remove financial barriers so families can attend FIM shows.
“I feel very good about that. I actually have a foundation called the Kool Kids Foundation. We raise money for kids in schools – because you don’t have money any more in schools. When I was going to school, they’d have music in the schools. So, we have the foundation to help the kids.”
Kool & the Gang has worked with Gladys Knight, Nile Rodgers, Van Halen, Kid Rock, The Dave Matthews Band, the Commodores and many other bands and artists.
Bell said concertgoers can look forward to jammin’ to songs like “Get Down on It” and “Cherish”
For tickets to the show at the FIM Capital Theatre, visit thefim.org.
For information on the Kool Kids Foundation, visit www.koolkidsfoundation.org.
