FREE CONCERT PRESENTED BY THE ELKHART COUNTY CVB
City of Elkhart and The Lerner Theatre are thrilled to host Celebration Under The Stars featuring Kool & the Gang with special guest, The Commodores on Saturday, September 6th, 2025 at 7:00pm. This free performance, presented by The Elkhart County CVB is envisioned as a groundbreaking event that blends Elkhart’s musical heritage with world-class production. Celebration Under The Stars will feature an inspiring atmosphere that activates Elkhart’s Central Green in ways never seen before as an extension of The Lerner’s 100th anniversary celebration. This event will showcase Elkhart’s spirit, commitment to placemaking, and tradition of exceeding expectations.
Kool & the Gang:Kool & the Gang, officially launched in 1969. Thanks to iconic songs like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness, and Open Sesame, they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.
From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. A reviewer recently called their performance “a 24-karat show” and every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe.
The heavily-in-demand band has continued to tour the world, appearing most recently alongside Kid Rock, Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, The Roots, and a 50-city tour with the legendary rock band, Van Halen.
In 1964, Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined Jersey City neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band went through various names – The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames – before settling on their famous moniker.
Over the next several years they solidified their musical chemistry on the rough-and-tumble East Coast music scene supporting acts like Bill Cosby, Ritchie Havens and Richard Pryor. Their self-titled 1969 debut album introduced their signature instrumental sound and fierce horn arrangements and spawned their first Billboard R&B charted single, Kool & the Gang.
In 1969 Kool & the Gang released their self-titled debut album. It was the introduction to a theme, music is the message, that Kool & the Gang stands by today. The instrumental album was an expression of their deep love of music. It was also an introduction to their signature sound and the fierce horn arrangements created by Khalis, Dee Tee, and Spike. Their debut album spawned their first Billboard R&B charted single Kool & the Gang and later Let the Music Take Your Mind.
In 1970, their audacious sophomore set Live at the Sex Machine peaked at #6 on Billboard’s R&B chart and yielded three hit singles: Funky Man, Who’s Gonna Take the Weight, and I Want to Take You Higher. Next came The Best Of Kool & the Gang Featuring The Penguin, Kool & the Gang Live at PJ’S, Music Is The Message, and Good Times, all of which helped solidify a sound that wowed not only fans but such contemporaries as James Brown and Nina Simone. The band’s stellar reputation grew with each album, but 1973’s gold disc Wild & Peaceful took Kool & the Gang to another level (#6 R&B, #33 Pop), spurred by the immortal party anthems Funky Stuff, Hollywood Swinging and the platinum smash Jungle Boogie. Hits like Higher Plane (#1 R&B), the classic Summer Madness (featured on the Grammy-winning movie soundtrack Rocky) and LPs Spirit of the Boogie, Love & Understanding and Open Sesame followed. The latter’s title track was featured on the top-selling movie soundtrack of all time, Saturday Night Fever, earning the group their second Grammy.
In 1979, Kool & the Gang unveiled a smooth new sound with Ladies Night. Produced by the legendary Pop/Jazz musician Eumir Deodato, it became their first platinum album. The #1 R&B title track reached #8 at Pop. It was followed by Too Hot (#3 R&B, #5 Pop). The 80’s would see them dominate the mainstream, starting with the double platinum- selling album Celebrate (driven by the international monster hit Celebration, which spent six weeks atop the R&B chart and became a #1 Pop single).
Celebration, which played as the American hostages returned from Iran, remains de rigueur at joyous occasions worldwide. The smashes Get Down On It, Take My Heart, Let’s Go Dancing, Joanna, Tonight, Misled, the #1 R&B, #2 Pop giant Cherish and the #1 R&B anthem Fresh (these last three from the multi-platinum LP Emergency) solidified the group’s international stardom. Kool & the Gang landed 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.
With the explosion of hip-hop in the 90’s, Kool & the Gang’s incredible catalog of grooves made them DJ favorites. They were second only to R&B icon James Brown as sources of rap music samples.
Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition and a following that spans generations due in part to the groups widely sampled catalogue. Kool & the Gang’s drum beats, bass, guitar and signature horn lines lace the tracks of numerous artists including the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cypress Hill, and P. Diddy. Kool & the Gang is the most sampled band in hip-hop by far. Their music is also featured on the soundtracks for Rocky, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Wreck-It Ralph and countless others.
In 2014, they were honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and in October 2015, in the town they sing about in one of their earliest hits, “Hollywood Swinging,” Kool & the Gang was honored to take their place as American musical icons with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2016, they released a single, “Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours),” which rose to #15 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart. The song signifies a modernization of Kool & the Gang’s unmistakable sound, down to the dance floor tailored bass grooves and the perfectly timed horns. It was their first airplay chart hit in a decade.
Kool & the Gang’s years of hard work and talent earned them an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2018.
In 2019, Kool & the Gang celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Here are a few ways they celebrated the milestone:
Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
In a touching tribute, a street they grew up on in Jersey City has been renamed in their honor: “Kool & the Gang Way.”
“Celebration” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame
Kool’s bass is displayed at the new Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Artifacts from the band’s archive have recently gone on display, next to Count Basie, at the newly opened Grammy Museum Experience 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 2021.
On October 19, 2024, Kool & the Gang was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the Class of 2024.
The group continues to delight fans around the globe with their timeless hits and amazing live performances. For information and tour dates: www.koolandthegang.com
The Commodores:
LEGENDS & ICONS FOR OVER 50 YEARS!
70 MILLION ALBUMS SOLD
7 #1 HITS
POP & MOTOWN LEGENDS
One of the greatest Motown and R&B / funk artists of all time, The Commodores have influenced artists both young and old, and in all genres with their classic songs. With a brand that is bigger than ever, The Commodores continue to blaze trails all over the world. One of the most successful vocal groups of all time, The Commodores continue to thrill audiences with their Greatest Hits Tour – Live!
ACCOLADES & ACHIEVEMENTS
75 Million Albums Sold Worldwide
7 – #1 singles
5 – #1 Albums
20 – Top 10 Singles
15 – Top 10 Albums
1985 Grammy Award – “Nightshift”
1987 Antwerp Diamond Microphone Award
1995 Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees
The 58th AutoZone Liberty Bowl Outstanding Achievement Award (2016)
2018 Casino Entertainment Awards “Musical Artist of the Year”
In 1968 the group was formed while all the members were in college at Tuskegee Institute. After being discovered by Berry Gordy, the Commodores went on to sell over 60 million records for Motown. With hits like “Machine Gun” and “Sail On”, The Commodores became proven artists. For five decades, the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry. The Commodores aren’t just any group. They have staying power. Just like their hit song “Brick House,” the Commodores have created a foundation that just won’t budge.
Sponsorships and VIP Packages are available!
Sponsorships and VIP Packages for Celebration Under the Stars on Central Green are now available! Join us in honoring 100 years of The Lerner Theatre’s legacy while celebrating in style under the summer sky. Your support not only creates a memorable experience but also makes a lasting impact on our community.
To reserve your experience or explore sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alex Otto at
QWxleGFuZGVyICEgT3R0byB8IGNvZWkgISBvcmc= or call 574-350-4209.
You may also like the following events from The Lerner Theatre:
Also check out other
Entertainment events in Elkhart,
Music events in Elkhart,
Arts events in Elkhart.
