Kool & The Gang
Capitol Theatre
September 26 • 8:00pm
https://thefim.org/event/koolandthegang
FIM and United Way present
Join us as we collaborate for our fourth year to celebrate United Way and their service to our community for over 100 years!
Kool & The Gang, officially formed in 1969, has been performing 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. 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-10 R&B hits, nine Top-10 Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums.
In 1964, Ronald “Khalis” Bell and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined 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. Their self-titled 1969 debut album introduced their signature instrumental sound and fierce horn arrangements.
In 1969, Kool & The Gang released their self-titled debut album, followed by at least one album per year until 1984, when their output slowed a bit. The band’s stellar reputation grew with each album, but 1973’s Wild & Peaceful took Kool & The Gang to another level spurred by the immortal party anthems “Funky Stuff,” “Hollywood Swinging,” and the platinum smash “Jungle Boogie.” In 1979, Kool & The Gang unveiled a smooth new sound with Ladies Night, which became their first platinum album. The 1980s would see the group continue to 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 No. 1 Pop single.
With the explosion of hip-hop in the 90’s, Kool & The Gang’s incredible catalog of grooves made them DJ favorites. Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition and a following that spans generations. The group continues to delight fans around the globe with their timeless hits and amazing live performances.
Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes
Presenting Sponsor: United Way of Genesee County
Diamond Sponsor: Security Credit Union Foundation
Support this Community Celebration and KidsTix
Performing arts can change lives – and with your help, we are opening the door for more kids to experience that transformation. Because of the generous sponsorship of the United Way of Genesee County, all proceeds support KidsTix, a fund that removes financial barriers so families can attend professional performances across FIM venues. Simply by attending, you are helping to create access to arts experiences and inspiring the next generation of artists and art lovers.
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