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Remembering Our Legends: Robert “Kool” Bell

There are many living legends in the music industry and we need to remember them and keep their music alive, like the founder of Kool & The Gang. Robert “Kool” Bell is the co-founder, leader and master bassist for the legendary Grammy winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Kool & the Gang Kool and his family emigrated to Jersey City, NJ in the early 1960s. Shortly thereafter, Kool and his brother Ronald/Khalis joined neighborhood friends Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a distinctive musical blend of jazz, soul, and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs,, the band went through various name changes—the New Dimensions, the Soul Town Band, and Kool & the Flames—before settling on Kool & the Gang in 1968.
A multi-platinum-selling group and the most sampled band of all time, Kool & the Gang has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of generations with 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums. Classics include “Jungle Boogie”, “Hollywood Swinging”, “Ladies Night” and the #1 hit, “Celebration”. The band were recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Kool’s business ventures include the successful Le Kool champagne line of spirits. With his departed wife, Sakinah, he co-founded the non-profit music education initiative, the Kool Kids Foundation – which is currently overseen by his sons Hakim (president) and Muhammad (vice president).