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Left - right, Bottom:
Dennis Thomas, Robert "Kool" Bell
Left - right, Top:
Otha Nash, Claydes "Charles" Smith, Ronald "Khalis" Bell, George "Funky" Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens
 See our Tribute to Charles Smith
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Click on a time period to find out more:
1972
 Kool & The Gang Live at PJ’s and Music Is The Message
Kool & The Gang had very little control over their business. As was the standard practice of the time they were doled out money piecemeal by management. Gene controlled everything.
Dennis marries.
Kool & The Gang embark on their first international tour.
Ronald Bell is given a Koran. He takes it in Germany. He reads it cover to cover in Frankfurt on the tour bus.
Kool reads Message To The Black Man by Elijah Mohammed.
When they return to the United States Kool & Ronald join the Clairmont Avenue Temple of The Nation Of Islam in Jersey City.
Ronald Bell becomes Ronald Five X
Kool becomes Robert Nine X
The group parted with Gene Redd and signed to De-lite
Ronald Five X is given the name Khalis (intelligent) by Imam Wallace D. Mohammed
Robert Nine X is given the name Muhammed (praised much) by Imam Wallace D. Mohammed
Their family name becomes Bayyan (clear evidence), given by Imam Wallace D. Mohammed.
De-lite wanted to hire Gene Redd back by the end of the year after the dismal sales of Good Times. A & R suggests that Kool & The Gang re-record Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango.
Khalis is furious. They go into the studio for an all day session. They walk out with three songs for A & R. Hollywood Swingin, Jungle Boogie and Funky Stuff. Khalis quips, “Here’s your Soul Makossa”.
1973
 Good Times and Wild & Peaceful.
This album was Kool & The Gang’s first certified gold album reaching #6 on Billboard’s R&B charts and #33 on the Pop charts. The “wild” side of the album produced three party anthems, Funky Stuff, Hollywood Swinging, and the million selling single, Jungle Boogie. The “peaceful” side of the album continued their quest for peace and unity with songs like Heaven At Once and the title track Wild & Peaceful
Claydes third child was born.
Khalis’ second child is born.
Dennis re-marries.
Dennis' son was born.
1974
Dennis and Ricky get into a heated argument in the lobby of the Hollywood Holiday Inn. It is a financial dispute. Dennis, who doubled as tour manager, refused to give Ricky more money. The dispute escalated into a fist fight just as wedding caterers were wheeling a five tier cake through the lobby. Ricky, Dennis and the cake collide.
Ronald Bell, 1974
Riding high from the success of Wild & Peaceful, Kool & The Gang released the most spiritual album in their catalogue, Light of Worlds, in 1974. Light of Worlds represented a spiritual re-awakening. With a cutting edge synthesizer sound, the album was a testament to change. For the group it represented a change in the way they ate thought and lived each day. The album produced the #1 R&B single Higher Plane and the classic hit, Summer Madness. Summer Madness was featured in the movie “Rocky”. The soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy.
Kool & The Gang hire a road manager.
Kool’s second child was born.
1975
Instead of jumping on the disco bandwagon, Kool & The Gang remained true to their “message” releasing two hit albums in 1975: Spirit of the Boogie and Love & Understanding.
Claydes has a son.
Kool & The Gang, "The Tonight Show"
"Jungle Boogie"
1976
The group studies eastern philosophy/ TM/ Yoga.
Dennis begins wearing a turban on-stage.
Ricky and Spike refer to the other band members as “the Spirits”.
The group appears in eastern garb at restaurants.
 Ricky Westfield left the group and formed his own band, North East South West. Although they remained lifelong friends, this marked the end of the musical collaboration between the seven original Kool & The Gang members.
Late in 1976, Kool & The Gang released the smash album, Open Sesame. The title track was featured on the best selling movie soundtrack of all times, Saturday Night Fever, earning Kool & The Gang two Grammy Awards.
George’s second child was born.
1977
Ronald’s third child is born.
1978
Disco dominates the poplar music scene. Kool & the Gang have seriouscompetition.
 Kool, Khalis, George, Ice
Earth Wind & Fire and The Commodores emerged with powerful lead singers. Ronald Isley was still making hits and Parliament and the Funkadelics, George Clinton’s group, had taken the Funk movement to another level.
Kool & The Gang decide to audition lead singers. James Taylor was the first candidate to walk in. Khalis played a few notes on the piano. He hired James on the spot.
Clifford Adams begins a long term stint as trombone player for Kool & The Gang.
Claydes fifth child was born.
While going through a painful breakup George writes "Too Hot".
1979
 Kool & the Gang hire an outside producer. They were looking for objectivity. They begin a successful affiliation with Eumir Deodato.
Kool & The Gang reemerged on the music scene with a new sound and a lead singer, James JT Taylor. A former school teacher from Hackensack, New Jersey, JT added his smooth, sultry vocals and charismatic personality to the group’s new polished sound. The result was Kool & The Gang’s first platinum selling album. Ladies Night was produced by the legendary Pop/Jazz musician Eumir Deodato. The title track held the #1 position for three consecutive weeks on the R&B charts and peaked at #8 on the Pop charts. It was followed by Too Hot which reached the # 3 position on the R&B charts and #5 position on the Pop charts.
Claydes changes his name to Charles when he sees their name on the Billboard Top Ten.
Ladies Night wins them Best R & B Group at the AMA’s in 1979.
1980
 Kool & The Gang released the double platinum selling album Celebrate.
The international hit single Celebration remained at #1 on Billboard’s R&B charts for six consecutive weeks and was the #1 Billboard Pop single. Celebration became the theme song for some of 1980’s memorable moments including the return of the American hostages from Iran. This phenomenal single is still played at joyous occasions all over the world.
1981
Kool & The Gang produced hit after hit between 1981 to 1983. The albums Something Special, As One and In the Heart gave the world the hit singles Get Down On It, Take My Heart, Let's Go Dancing, Joanna, and Tonight.
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