Kool & the Gang

United States

The whole story

The band today
  • Al Paris
  • Claydes Smith
  • Clifford Adams, trombone
  • Curtis “Fitz” Williams
  • Don Boyce
  • Earl Toon, Jr.
  • Kevin Bell
  • Michael Ray
  • Mohamed Moretta
  • Ricky West
  • Robert Spike Mickens
  • Ronald Bell
  • Shawn McQuiller
  • Woody Sparrow
  • Robert “Kool” Bell, bass
    • Dennis “D.T.” Thomas joins · keyboard, saxophone
    • George Brown joins · percussion
    • Robert “Kool” Bell joins · bass

    The band in 1964: Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, George Brown, Robert “Kool” Bell

    • Let the Music Take Your Mind / Chocolate Buttermilk Single · 1969
    • Album · 1969 Kool and the Gang
    • Kool and the Gang / Funky Man Single · 1969
    • Funky Man / 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Single · 1970
    • Can't Stop (Doing It To You) / Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz) Single · 1970
    • Live at the Sex Machine Live · 1971
    • Who’s Gonna Take the Weight Single · 1971
    • Live at P.J.’s Live · October 1971
    • Album · 1972 Music Is the Message
    • Album · 1972 Good Times
    • Kool Jazz 1973
    • Album · 9 Sep 1973 Wild and Peaceful
    • Album · 1974 Light of Worlds
    • Album · 1975 Spirit of the Boogie
    • Greatest Hits 1975
    • Album · 1976 Love & Understanding
    • Album · 1976 Open Sesame
    • Spin Their Top Hits 1976
    • Album · 1977 The Force
    • James “J.T.” Taylor joins · lead vocals

    The band in 1978: Al Paris, Claydes Smith, Clifford Adams, Curtis “Fitz” Williams, Don Boyce, Earl Toon, Jr., Kevin Bell, Michael Ray, Mohamed Moretta, Ricky West, Robert Spike Mickens, Ronald Bell, Shawn McQuiller, Woody Sparrow, Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, George Brown, Robert “Kool” Bell, James “J.T.” Taylor

    • Album · 16 Aug 1978 Everybody’s Dancin’
    • Hangin' Out / Ladies Night Single · 1979
    • Ladies Night Single · 1979
    • Album · 6 Sep 1979 Ladies’ Night
    • Take It to the Top / Celebremos Single · 1980
    • Jones vs Jones Single · 1980
    • Celebration Single · 1980
    • Album · 20 Sep 1980 Celebrate!
    • + 1 single
      • Too Hot Single · January 1980
    • Kool and the Gang in Brighton Brighton Dome, Brighton
    • Kool and the Gang in Leicester De Montfort Hall, Leicester
    • Kool and the Gang in Cardiff Top Rank, Cardiff
    • Kool and the Gang in Manchester O2 Apollo Manchester, Ardwick
    • + 3 dates
      • Kool and the Gang in Edinburgh Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh
      • Kool and the Gang in London Rainbow Theatre, London
      • Kool and the Gang in London Rainbow Theatre, London
    • Big Fun Single · 1981
    • Get Down on It Single · 1981
    • Album · 24 Sep 1981 Something Special
    • Ooh La, La, La (Let’s Go Dancing) Single · 1982
    • Album · 7 Sep 1982 As One
    • Joanna Single · 1983
    • Boogie With…Kool & the Gang 1983
    • Twice As Kool: The Hits of Kool & the Gang 1983
    • At Their Best 1983
    • Straight Ahead / Hi De Ho, Hi De Ho Single · 1983
    • Tonight Single · 1983
    • Album · 14 Nov 1983 In the Heart
    • + 1 single
      • (When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart Single · 1983
    • Fresh Single · 1984
    • Cherish Single · 1984
    • Emergency Single · 1984
    • Album · 15 Nov 1984 Emergency
    • Fresh (remix) 24 Nov 1984
    • + 1 single
      • Misled Single · November 1984
    • Best of Kool & the Gang 1985
    • Misled Single · 1985
    • Best of... 22 Nov 1985
    • Stone Love Single · 1986
    • Victory Single · 1986
    • Peacemaker EP · 1986
    • Stone Love (club mix) 1986
    • Album · 3 Nov 1986 Forever
    • Holiday Single · 1987
    • James “J.T.” Taylor leaves · lead vocals

    The band in 1988: Al Paris, Claydes Smith, Clifford Adams, Curtis “Fitz” Williams, Don Boyce, Earl Toon, Jr., Kevin Bell, Michael Ray, Mohamed Moretta, Ricky West, Robert Spike Mickens, Ronald Bell, Shawn McQuiller, Woody Sparrow, Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, George Brown, Robert “Kool” Bell

    • The Singles Collection 1988
    • Everything’s Kool & the Gang: Greatest Hits & More 1988
    • Rags to Riches Single · 1988
    • Album · 1989 Sweat
    • Raindrops Single · 1989
    • Kool Love 1990
    • Dance Collection 1990
    • The Ballad Collection 1990
    • The Very Best Of July 1990
    • The Dance Collection 26 Sep 1990
    • Anthology: 20 Greatest Tracks 1991
    • Great and Remixed ’91 1991
    • Steppin’ Out: The Very Best Of 1992
    • (Jump Up On The) Rhythm And Ride EP · 1992
    • Back to Back: The Best Of 1992
    • Album · 1992 Unite
    • Celebration 1992
    • Give It Up 1993
    • Greatest Hits Live! Live · 1993
    • The Best of Kool and the Gang (1969–1976) 18 May 1993
    • Anthology 1994
    • Night People 1994
    • New York City Cool 1994
    • Celebration: The Best of Kool & the Gang (1979–1987) 7 Jun 1994
    • Kool & The Gang Live · 1995
    • Salute 1996
    • Album · 26 Mar 1996 State of Affairs
    • The Collection 1997
    • The Very Best Of 21 Jan 1997
    • Kool & the Gang 4 Mar 1997
    • The Best of Kool & the Gang 1998
    • The Best of Kool & The Gang 1998
    • All-Time Greatest Hits 21 Apr 1998
    • Greatest Hits 15 Sep 1998
    • Live: Let’s Go Dancing Live · 1999
    • The Summer Remixes Single · 1999
    • Always Single · 1999
    • Greatest Hits 1999
    • The Best Of Kool & The Gang 1999
    • The Very Best of Kool and the Gang 1 Mar 1999
    • The 12″ Collection and More 18 May 1999
    • The Ultimate Celebration 2000
    • Classic Kool & the Gang 2000
    • Get Down on It: The Very Best of Kool & the Gang 2000
    • Millenium Collection 2000
    • 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kool & the Gang 1 Feb 2000
    • The Gold Collection 2 Feb 2000
    • Kool & The Gang 2001
    • Media Markt Collection 2001
    • The Very Best Of 2001
    • Summer Madness Single · 2001
    • 25 Dance Tracks 2001
    • Kool Funk Essentials 1970-1977 2001
    • The Best of Kool & The Gang 28 Nov 2001
    • Greatest Hits 6 Dec 2001
    • Most Famous Hits: The Album 2002
    • Kool Funk Essentials 2002
    • Too Hot Live Live · 21 May 2002
    • The Funk Collection 21 Oct 2002
    • Gangthology 2003
    • The Ultimate Collection 6 Oct 2003
    • Ladies Night Single · 15 Dec 2003
    • Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest 2003, day 7: Main Stage Marion Dewar Plaza, Ottawa
    • Celebration 2004
    • The Best of Kool & the Gang Live · 2004
    • Ladies Night 2004
    • Het beste van 2004
    • Fresh Single · 14 Apr 2004
    • Ladies Night Single · 20 Apr 2004
    • Album · 21 Apr 2004 The Hits: Reloaded
    • Live Live · 2005
    • Live Live · 2005
    • Celebration 2005
    • Gold 1 Mar 2005
    • Fresh 8 Jun 2006
    • Cherish 8 Jun 2006
    • Steppin Into Love Single · 2 Aug 2006
    • Kool & the Gang Live · 2007
    • Dave Single · 2007
    • Album · 22 Jun 2007 Still Kool
    • Party People Single · 22 Jun 2007
    • Number 1’s 28 Aug 2007
    • The 50 Greatest Songs 29 Oct 2007
    • Greatest Hits November 2008
    • Album · 2 Feb 2009 Kool Funk Essentials - 2
    • Icons 9 Jun 2009
    • Best Selection 9 Sep 2009
    • Live at Montreux 2009 Live · 21 Sep 2009
    • Best of Kool & the Gang 13 Apr 2010
    • At the BBC Live · 3 May 2010
    • The Very Best of: Live in Concert Live · 7 May 2010
    • Celebration Live! - EP EP · 7 Dec 2010
    • Icon 1 Mar 2011
    • The Best Of 30 Mar 2011
    • Kool and the Gang 2012
    • Pop Gallery 2012
    • Get Down on It: The Collection 1 Jan 2012
    • More Hits 26 Apr 2012
    • Summerfest 2012, Day 1: Miller Lite Oasis Miller Lite Oasis, Milwaukee
    • Ballads 9 Apr 2013
    • Album · 5 Nov 2013 Kool for the Holidays
    • Greatest Hits 31 Mar 2014
    • Summerfest 2014, Day 9: BMO Harris Pavilion BMO Harris Pavilion with Miller Lite, Milwaukee
    • Summerfest 2016, Day 8: Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard with Coors Light and Tap Milwaukee Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, Milwaukee
    • Collected 18 May 2018
    • Get Down On It (Father Funk Remix) Single · 31 Jul 2019
    • Phenomenal October 2019
    • Ladies’ Night / Celebrate! / Something Special / As One / In The Heart / Emergency June 2020
    • Dennis “D.T.” Thomas leaves · keyboard, saxophone

    The band in 2021: Al Paris, Claydes Smith, Clifford Adams, Curtis “Fitz” Williams, Don Boyce, Earl Toon, Jr., Kevin Bell, Michael Ray, Mohamed Moretta, Ricky West, Robert Spike Mickens, Ronald Bell, Shawn McQuiller, Woody Sparrow, George Brown, Robert “Kool” Bell

    • Album · 20 Aug 2021 Perfect Union
    • The Albums, Vol.1 1970-1978 17 Jun 2022
    • The Albums, Vol. 2 1979-1989 26 Aug 2022
    • George Brown leaves · percussion

    The band in 2023: Al Paris, Claydes Smith, Clifford Adams, Curtis “Fitz” Williams, Don Boyce, Earl Toon, Jr., Kevin Bell, Michael Ray, Mohamed Moretta, Ricky West, Robert Spike Mickens, Ronald Bell, Shawn McQuiller, Woody Sparrow, Robert “Kool” Bell

    • Chocolate Buttermilk (Live) Live · 20 Jun 2023
    • Album · 14 Jul 2023 People Just Wanna Have Fun
    • Movie Star Single · 21 Jun 2024
    • Greatest Hits 2025
    • KOOL SUMMER 25 Jul 2025
    • 2026‐10‐17: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, USA Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, Red Bank