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The Groove
Saturday February 8th, 2025 with Elorious Cain
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Celebration of KOOL & THE GANG

We continue our 2025 Celebration of BLACK HISTORY MONTH with a special on KOOL & THE GANG, and on February 22 we will be featuring CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR. Yes we are celebrating amazing BLACK bands from the big apple for BLACK HISTORY MONTH! Hailing from the New Jersey side, the brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell (also known as "Khalis Bayyan") along with friends Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow, and Ricky Westfield began playing live JAZZ in their part time as teenagers. They would eventually start calling themselves KOOL & THE GANG and add a funky edge to their music. Influenced by many JAZZ musicians, KOOL & THE GANG started in the late 1960's recording their own unique blend of FUNK and DISCO that would slowly establish them as one of the best sources with iconic and widely popular tracks like "Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swinging" and "Jungle Jazz" to name a few. The band reached a second and phenomenal commercial peak between 1979 and 1985 following a brief partnership with Brazilian producer EUMIR DEODATO known for his 1974 hit, a JAZZY DISCO cover of "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)." The addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor as lead vocalist to the line-up also added to their cleaner sound which brought megahits like "Ladies' Night" and "Celebration" in the 1979 and 1980. Dozens of artists have been greatly influenced by the unique sounds of KOOL & THE GANG. Their popularity spread around the globe!
CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL AND THE GANG (LP) - DE - LITE
GIVE IT UP
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL AND THE GANG (LP) - DE - LITE
PNEUMONIA
KOOL & THE GANG - 7" - DE - LITE
WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE WEIGHT
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL & THE GANG (LP) - DE - LITE
THE PENGIUN
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL AND THE GANG (LP) - DE - LITE
KOOL IT (HERE COMES THE FUZZ)
KOOL & THE GANG - 7" - DE - LITE
KOOL & THE GANG
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL AND THE GANG (LP) - DE - LITE
N.T., PT'S 1 AND 2
KOOL & THE GANG - THE BEST OF KOOL AND THE GANG 1969-1976 (2LP) - MERCURY
STREET CORNER SYMPHONY
KOOL & THE GANG - LIGHT OF WORLDS (LP) - DE - LITE
SOUL VIBRATIONS
KOOL & THE GANG - MUSIC IS THE MESSAGE (LP) - DE - LITE
RHYME - TYME PEOPLE
KOOL & THE GANG - LIGHT OF WORLDS (LP) - DE - LITE
HOLLYWOOD SWINGING
KOOL & THE GANG - 7" - DE - LITE
SPIRIT OF THE BOOGIE
KOOL & THE GANG - SPIRIT OF THE BOOGIE (LP) - DE - LITE
FUNKY STUFF
KOOL & THE GANG - 7" - DE - LITE
MORE FUNKY STUFF
KOOL & THE GANG - WILD AND PEACEFUL (LP) - DE - LITE
JUNGLE BOOGIE
KOOL & THE GANG - 7" - DE - LITE
JUNGLE JAZZ
KOOL & THE GANG - THE FUNKY STUFF (LP) - MERCURY
LIGHT OF WORLDS
KOOL & THE GANG - LIGHT OF WORLDS (LP) - DE - LITE
EVERYBODY'S DANCIN'
KOOL & THE GANG - EVERYBODY'S DANCIN' (LP) - DE - LITE
OPEN SESAME (GROOVE WITH THE GENIE)
KOOL & THE GANG - 12" - DE - LITE
LOVE & UNDERSTANDING (COME TOGETHER)
KOOL & THE GANG - 12" - DE - LITE
DANCIN' SHOES
KOOL & THE GANG - EVERYBODY'S DANCIN' (LP) - DE - LITE
BIG CHIEF FUNKUM
KOOL & THE GANG - EVERYBODY'S DANCIN' (LP) - DE - LITE
LADIES' NIGHT
KOOL & THE GANG - LADIES' NIGHT (LP) - DE - LITE
CELEBRATION
KOOL & THE GANG - CELEBRATE! (LP) - DE - LITE
GET DOWN ON IT
KOOL & THE GANG - SOMETHING SPECIAL (LP) - DE - LITE
TOO HOT
KOOL & THE GANG - LADIES' NIGHT (LP) - DE - LITE
LET'S GO DANCIN' (OOH LA, LA, LA)
KOOL & THE GANG - AS ONE (LP) - DE - LITE
Interactive CKCU
Michuo
Great band. Saw them in Japan many years ago, Good show to come!

10:43 AM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT, MICHUO!

1:14 PM, February 8th, 2025
Professor Mike
Awesome as always and brings me back to a simpler time

1:19 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
That is very true, Mike! - for many of us.

1:20 PM, February 8th, 2025
robert p in gatineau
Fun celebration ! Thank you. In 1973, i was 15 years old. Had the Kool & the Gang LP. Lucky to be alive then...

1:28 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you, robert p in gatineau! They were so fun!

1:32 PM, February 8th, 2025
Heavy Ben
Can't get enough of this FUNKY stuff

1:39 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
Hello Heavy Ben!

1:41 PM, February 8th, 2025
Paula
What a great show Elorious! Glad I made it a priority. Thanks. Takes me backā€¦

2:07 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
Very happy you could tune in, Paula!

2:10 PM, February 8th, 2025
Johnny G
That extended version of Jungle Boogie was outstanding! One of the things that sets Kool & the Gang apart is their excellent brass section and how they meld it with the funky rhythms.

2:24 PM, February 8th, 2025
Johnny G
Michuo, how lucky were you?!

2:25 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for the comment, Johnny G! They were one of the best sources of funky Brass!

2:29 PM, February 8th, 2025
Dela B,
This is the Kool & the Gang that I love. I was going out to the discos. I was young. Things were simple for me.

2:35 PM, February 8th, 2025
Elorious Cain (host)
This newer sound in 1979 and the 1980's kind of re-invented the band. I understand what you are saying, Dela B.

2:40 PM, February 8th, 2025
Paula
These last songs have me dancing and grooving out in my chair! Super fun

2:47 PM, February 8th, 2025
TEKNOBRAT
Im a big fan of Kool & The Gang. Emergency is probably my favorite album from them .

10:30 PM, February 8th, 2025