Renowned musician George “Funky” Brown, who co-founded Kool & the Gang, passed away on November 16 at the age of 74 due to lung cancer. He contributed to hits such as ‘Ladies’ Night’ and ‘Celebration’, ultimately ending his star-studded 59-year career as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for the pioneering R&B, disco, funk and soul band. Even after his retirement, Brown still contributed to the band’s most recent album, ‘People Just Wanna Have Fun’, released in July of this year, and published his memoir, Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me in the same month.
According to a spokesperson for Kool & the Gang, when asked to describe his music, Brown always replied, “The sound of happiness”. After his death, celebrities such as Nile Rodgers and Patty Jackson expressed their respect and sent out heartfelt condolences to his family and friends on Twitter.
Brown played a pivotal role in the legendary band, working alongside bassist Robert “Kool” Bell, saxophonist Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, guitarist Claydes Charles Smith, and rhythm and lead guitarist Woodrow “Woody” Sparrow. Kool & the Gang was formed in 1964 and, over the years, saxophonist Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, keyboardists Ronald Bell and Ricky West, trumpeter Robert “Spike” Mickens and guitarist Claydes Charles Smith have passed away.
Kool & the Gang delivered some of the biggest hits of the ’70s and ’80s, with numbers such as ‘Get Down on It’, ‘Celebration’, ‘Jungle Boogie’ and ‘Ladies Night’ taking over dancefloors worldwide. The death of George Brown is a significant loss to the music community, as he was a pioneer of funk and soul music with a legacy that will always be remembered
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More