Kool & the Gang have provided the soundtrack to many a soirée — and sporting events — with “Celebration,” their 1980 party anthem that became their only No. 1 single.
But it’s the R&B group that formed 60 years ago in 1964 that will be reveling in their own “good times” when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
“They finally recognized us,” bandleader and co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell told The Post about their enshrinement on their first nomination — 30 years after they were first eligible in 1994. “It’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and we were wondering [if they thought we were rock enough].”
But it’s “bittersweet” that Bell, at 74, is the only surviving original member who will be inducted by Public Enemy’s Chuck D in an eclectic class of 2024 that also includes Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest.
At least James “J.T.” Taylor — who in 1979 became the lead singer on hits such as “Ladies’ Night,” “Too Hot,” “Get Down on It,” “Joanna” and “Cherish” — will be present, although he left the group in 1988 to pursue a solo career. No doubt, he’ll get the party started with “Celebration” during their performance.
The enduring classic was born out of another festive occasion — after Kool & the Gang performed “Ladies’ Night” at the 1980 American Music Awards. “When we came back,” said Bell, “my brother [Ronald Bell] said, ‘I have another idea for a song: ‘Celebration.’”
In fact, it was a sequel of sorts to “Ladies’ Night.”
“The end of ‘Ladies’ Night’ was ‘This is your night tonight/Come on, let’s all celebrate,’” Bell explained about his late brother’s stroke of inspiration. “He took another groove, and it was kinda funky, but it had that down-home vibe to it, like grandma and grandpa sitting on the porch somewhere down in Birmingham, Alabama, drinking some Kool-Aid or whatever.
“We grabbed a little middle of the country with that ‘Yahoo’ thing, a little country thing. And the rest is history, man.”
History it was, indeed. The song became such a symbolic anthem for commemorating special triumphs and occasions, played everywhere from the World Series and the Super Bowl to media coverage marking the 1981 return of American hostages from Iran. And, of course, countless weddings, graduations, birthday parties, you name it.
“They played ‘Celebration’ at the Space Station,” said Bell. “Our fan base loves it. We can’t do a show without doing ‘Celebration’ … in all places around the world: Japan, and all through Africa, all through Australia. All over the world, people love that song.”
It certainly took Kool & the Gang to a level of international fame they would never have imagined when they first formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, NJ. They were also known as the Soul Town Band and the New Dimensions before changing their name to Kool & the Flames, taking a cue from Bell’s neighborhood nickname.
But there was a certain Godfather of Soul, James Brown, who already had a band called The Famous Flames.
“And we didn’t want to have any problem with the Godfather,” recalled Bell, “so we said, ‘Well, hey, we can’t do that. So let’s come up with something [else].’”
Their manager, Gene Redd, pitched “Gang” to replace “Flames” and produced their first album, 1969’s “Kool and the Gang.” But the group had its real breakthrough with 1973’s “Wild and Peaceful,” featuring the funk hits “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging.”
Kool & the Gang will have a “Wild and Peaceful”-themed after-party at the House of Blues Cleveland following their induction on Saturday.
Looking ahead to the big night, Bell echoed the festive spirit of “Celebration”: “It’s gonna be a nice party … It’s gonna be a good time.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
