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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
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Click on a time period to find out more:
1984
 Kool & The Gang released their second multiplatinum album Emergency.
The first single Misled went straight to #10 on Billboard’s Pop charts. Cherish, the #1 R&B single and #2 Pop single, echoed a familiar Kool & The Gang theme: life and love. Fresh was a #1 R&B single and a #9 Pop single. The success of Emergency solidified the group’s international superstardom. They had global commercial endorsements, supported countless charitable causes, and were the only American group to participate in Band Aid’s 1984 Do They Know It’s Christmas project for famine victims in Africa.
1985
Kool & The Gang sign with Polygram Records.
Khalis has a daughter.
Ricky Westfield, a Kool & The Gang original seven, dies from a prolonged illness.
A young group auditions for Kool in Oklahoma City.
1986
Kool & The Gang released Forever in 1987 which featured the hit R&B and Pop single Stone Love.
 1986 marked another departure by one of the groups original seven. Trumpet player Spike Mickens left the group due to poor health.
Khalis makes Hajj.
Khalis has a daughter.
Khalis takes a hiatus from the road to devote his time to writing and producing.
David Thomas, Dennis' son starts a group called “Exact Change” with Wyclef Jean. They were produced by Kurtis Blow and executive produced by Khalis.
Michelle Thomas, Dennis' daughter lands the role Justine on The Cosby Show.
1987
Kool & The Gang released Forever in 1987 which featured the hit R&B and Pop single Stone Love.
At their New Year’s show at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City, NJ, JT Taylor leaves the stage during Cherish. He was ill.
JT leaves the group to pursue a solo career.
George re-marries.
1988
In a meeting, the group’s road manager warns Khalis of impending financial doom. His words were, "You guys will be broke by the end of the year".
No one believes him.
Kool, his cousin Adil, and nephew Sam Sapp, negotiate a deal for the young group from Oklahoma on Giant Records. They debut as Color Me Badd.
George has a son.
Khalis has a daughter.
Internal financial problems begin by the close of the year.
1989
Huge loans from the banks secured by Polygram royalties begin to default. Record sales slow. Royalties are levied by the bank.
The group re-organizes a road show with three new singers. The show is a hit in Europe and Japan.
Big Moose’s son makes his debut recording. PM Dawn are an instant success.
 Pras, a friend of Khalis’ daughter, Lisa, knocks on his door. He is a rapper and wants help in the music business.
Khalis began working with Pras and his cousin Wyclef in Studio B at the House Of Music in West Orange.
Wyclef and Pras bought some singers to the studio as part of the act, Lauryn and Marcy.
They want Khalis to hear them sing and dance. He told them to form a group and they began recording demos for an album with Khalis.
Marcy decided to go to college after graduation that year.
Wyclef, Lauryn and Pras became The Rap Translators.
1991
Michelle Thomas, Dennis Thomas' daughter, lands the role of Myra on Family Matters.
Kool’s son Hakim forms the group POV. They sign to Giant Records.
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