May 2, 2022
The Jacksons perform at SeaWorld
On April 24th, The Jacksons delivered a fantastic performance at the Bayside Stadium in Orlando Florida.
The most recognizable family in music history, they put on an amazing show that includes all of their mega hits.
The fans loved it !
March 3, 2022
Kool & The Gang and The Jacksons ! – The Kings of Disco Funk
Kool & The Gang, The Jacksons, and Earth Wind and Fire Experience featuring Al McKay are set to tour France June 23 through July 2, 2022
The Kings of Disco Funk Tour schedule:
June 23 – Lille
June 25 Paris
June 29 Lyon
July 1 Bordeaux
July 2 Juan Les Pins
December 8, 2021
Kool & The Gang 2021 MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL in CHICAGO –
To watch Kool & The Gang perform CELEBRATION ffwd >> 43:44
November 3, 2021
Kool & The Gang perform “Ladies Night” on ‘THE TALK’ – October 28, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgXWoGz7lno
September 8, 2021
Sister Sledge Headlines GODIVA FESTIVAL in Coventry, UK – September 5, 2021
A taxi driver came to the rescue of Sister Sledge after their vehicle broke down on the way to headlining GODIVA Festival.
The iconic band, known for hits such as We Are Family, were due to close Coventry’s Godiva Festival on Sunday.
They arrived with minutes to spare and “got to do some singing in the cab,” founder member Debbie Sledge said.
An estimated 50,000 people attended the three-day festival at the city’s War Memorial Park.
Click the hyperlink below to read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-58461454
August 8, 2021
Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis ‘Dee Tee’ Thomas
On August 7,2021, Dennis Thomas (known as “Dee Tee”), beloved husband, father and a co-founder of Kool & the Gang, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 70 in New Jersey.
Dennis was born on February 9, 1951, in Orlando, Florida. He was married to Phynjuar Saunders Thomas and was a long-time resident of Montclair, NJ.
An original member of Kool & the Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor. A huge personality while also an extremely private person, Dennis was the alto saxophone player, flutist, percussionist as well as master of ceremonies at the band’s shows. Dennis’ prologue featured on the groups 1971 hit, “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight” is legendary and an example of his showmanship. Dee Tee was the group’s wardrobe stylist who made sure they always looked fresh. In the band’s early days, Dennis also served as the “budget hawk”, carrying the group’s earnings in a paper bag in the bell of his horn.
In 1964, seven teenage friends came together, brothers Ronald Bell and Robert “Kool” Bell, and friends Dennis Thomas, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith, created a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band went through various name changes before settling on their famous moniker. Kool & the Gang officially launched in 1969 and are now true funk, soul, R&B and pop legends.
To date, the band has earned two GRAMMY® Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. In addition, their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements made them the most sampled band of all time. Kool & the Gang’s music was also featured on the soundtracks of countless films including the classics Rocky, Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction. From Nairobi to New York, Kool & the Gang continues to perform, longer than any R&B group in history.
In 2014, the band was honored with a Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award; and in October 2015 they were honored to take their place as American musical icons with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are also included in installations at both the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. and the Grammy Museum in Newark, NJ. On March 24, 2021, Kool & the Gang’s timeless hit “Celebration” was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, Class of 2020.
Recently, Dennis was featured on “Kool TV,” a series of animated shorts about the band members’ childhoods and career.
He is predeceased by his mother Elizabeth Lee Thomas, his sister Darlene Thomas and his daughters, Michelle Thomas and Tracy Jackson. Michelle Thomas was an actress on The Cosby Show, Family Matters and The Young and the Restless and passed away in 1998.
He is survived by his wife Phynjuar Saunders Thomas; daughter, Tuesday Rankin; sons, David Thomas and Devin Thomas; Aunt Mary “Duggie” Jones; sisters Doris Mai McClary and Elizabeth Thomas Ross; brother, Bill Mcleary; and a host of nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Pyramid Entertainment has been Kool & The Gang’s booking agent since the 1980’s and “DT” was more family to us than a client.
A creative genius, legendary musician and a special human being, He will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace
July 7, 2021
Kool & The Gang preview new album “Perfect Union” with new single “Pursuit of Happiness”
Kool & The Gang have returned with a new song, “Pursuit of Happiness” from their upcoming album, “Perfect Union”.
In a statement, Kool & the Gang’s Robert “Kool” Bell explained that “Pursuit of Happiness” was written by his late brother, Ronald Bell, during Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. “It was in some ways inspired by that time in history but, even more than that, my brother was inspired to voice the aspirations of so many of the people we meet during our travels to countries all over the world,”
“Perfect Union” is Kool & The Gang’s first album of all new material since 2007’s “Still Kool”
Please click on the below hyperlink to read the full article:
