![diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51l69oi8b7L._SL160_.jpg)
The group entered the studio and recorded their debut album, the all-instrumental Kool and the Gang (1970), with Redd as a producer, arranger, conductor, and partial songwriter. Redd wrote: "I discovered these eight supertalented incomparable young musicians I immediately realized that their potential would earn them success unknown by most musicians". Īfter securing their new name and line-up, Kool & the Gang secured a recording deal with Redd's new independent label, De-Lite Records. However, their manager Gene Redd advised against it to avoid confusion with James Brown's band, The Famous Flames, leading to a further change to Kool & the Gang, in 1969. In 1967, they decided to perform as their own identity and became regulars at the Blue Note Lounge in Jersey one of the MC's advertised them with a new name, Kool & the Flames. The group then underwent several name changes, including The Soul Town Band and The New Dimensions, during which they would play Motown covers as the backing musicians for Soul Town, a small Jersey City-based organization similar to Motown. They also played occasionally with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Leon Thomas during their early period. Their first gigs took place as the opening act to a weekly jazz night held in a local theatre every Sunday. Miles Davis would drop by because he wanted to be a boxer. They moved to New York to train and lived in the same apartment building as Thelonious Monk, who became Robert's godfather. The Bells' father Bobby and uncle Tommy were boxers. Robert Bell had given himself the nickname "Kool" as a way of adapting to the street gangs in his neighborhood after moving from Ohio. All of them, except Smith, attended Lincoln High School in Jersey City. Among them were Robert "Kool" Bell on bass, his brother Ronald Bell on keyboards, Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet, Dennis "D.T." Thomas on saxophone, Ricky West on keyboards, George Brown on drums, and Charles Smith guitar. The band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 when seven school friends decided to perform together as an instrumental jazz and soul group named the Jazziacs. History 1964–1972: Formation and signing with De-Lite Taylor, Deodato partnership, and commercial peak 1.2 1973–1978: First commercial success and low period.1.1 1964–1972: Formation and signing with De-Lite.
![diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yiq8m5dbL._SL160_.jpg)
Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US.
![diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang diesel max summertime madness by kool and the gang](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VT3-hZS9L._SL160_.jpg)
Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a Mobo Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014. 1 " Celebration", " Get Down on It", " Joanna", " Misled", and " Cherish". Their hit singles during this period included " Ladies' Night", the US No. Their most successful albums of this period include Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 19 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the line-up. The band's first taste of success came with the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles " Jungle Boogie" and " Hollywood Swinging". After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang (1969). They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/ funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West.