Robert "Kool" Bell | |
|---|---|
 Bell in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Earl Bell |
| Also known as | Kool Muhammad Bayyan |
| Born | October 8, 1950 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B, soul, funk, dance-pop, disco, boogie |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | De-Lite, Mercury |
| Member of | Kool & the Gang |
| Formerly of | Band Aid |
Robert Earl "Kool" Bell (born October 8, 1950), also known by his Muslim name Muhammad Bayyan,[1] is an American musician, singer & songwriter.
He is one of the founding members of the American R&B, soul, funk and disco band Kool & the Gang.[2]
Biography
Early life
Bell was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Aminah Bayyan (1932–2014) and Robert "Bobby" Bell (1929–1985). Bell grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. Growing up, Bell was nicknamed "Kool", due to being "laid back":[3]
That's a nickname from the neighborhood I grew up in here in Jersey City. It's a faddish thing and I just happened to take the name Kool 'cause I'm kind of a laid back person.
Kool & The Gang
Along with his brother, Ronald Bell, he began playing jazz & in 1964 they formed a group named The Jazziacs. They began playing at clubs in New York City under a series of different band names before settling on the name "Kool & The Gang" in 1968. Their debut album, Kool and the Gang, was released the following year. Their first major hit came in 1973, with Jungle Boogie, which charted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Their first number one hit single was Spirit of the Boogie, which was released in 1975.
Bell, along with Kool & the Gang members James "J.T." Taylor and Dennis Thomas, were a part of the 1984 charity supergroup Band Aid.
Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. The band recorded nine No. 1 R&B singles in the 1970s and 1980s, including its No. 1 pop single "Celebration", have had seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, 31 gold and platinum albums.[4] The group is honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[5] Bell still tours with Kool & the Gang, as of 2023.
Personal life
Bell's younger brother, Ronald Bell, was also a musician, and co-formed the band with Robert in 1964. Ronald died of undisclosed causes on September 9, 2020.
In 1971, Robert married to Deborah Jones. Bell and Jones met when they were teenagers.[4] Deborah died on November 4, 2018, aged 67.[6] Her death was later revealed to have been the result of a long-standing illness.[7]
Together, they had a son, who has worked with Kool & the Gang in the past.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Kool and the Gang |
| 1972 | Music Is the Message |
| Good Times | |
| 1973 | Wild and Peaceful |
| 1974 | Light of Worlds |
| 1975 | Spirit of the Boogie |
| 1976 | Love & Understanding |
| Open Sesame | |
| 1977 | The Force |
| 1978 | Everybody's Dancin' |
| 1979 | Ladies' Night |
| 1980 | Celebrate! |
| 1981 | Something Special |
| 1982 | As One |
| 1983 | In the Heart |
| 1984 | Emergency |
| 1986 | Forever |
| 1989 | Sweat |
| 1992 | Unite |
| 1996 | State of Affairs |
| 2001 | Gangland |
| 2004 | The Hits: Reloaded |
| 2007 | Still Kool |
| 2013 | Kool for the Holidays |
| 2021 | Perfect Union |
Live albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1971 | Live at the Sex Machine |
| Live at PJ's | |
| 1998 | Greatest Hits Live |
| 2002 | Too Hot Live |
| 2010 | The Very Best-Live In Concert |
Singles
| Year | Single |
|---|---|
| 1969 | "Kool and the Gang" |
| "The Gang's Back Again" (A-side) | |
| "Kool's Back Again" (B-side) | |
| 1970 | "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)" |
| "Let the Music Take Your Mind" | |
| "Funky Man" | |
| 1971 | "Who's Gonna Take the Weight (Part One)" |
| "I Want to Take You Higher" | |
| "N.T. Part I" | |
| 1972 | "Love the Life You Live, Part I" |
| "Music Is the Message (Part 1)" | |
| "Funky Granny" | |
| "Good Times" | |
| 1973 | "Country Junky" |
| "Funky Stuff" | |
| "Jungle Boogie" | |
| 1974 | "Hollywood Swinging" |
| "Higher Plane" | |
| "Rhyme Tyme People" | |
| 1975 | "Spirit of the Boogie" (A-side) |
| "Summer Madness" (B-side) | |
| "Caribbean Festival" | |
| 1976 | "Love and Understanding (Come Together)" |
| "Universal Sound" | |
| "Open Sesame - Part 1" | |
| 1977 | "Super Band" |
| 1978 | "Slick Superchick" |
| "A Place in Space" | |
| "I Like Music" | |
| "Everybody's Dancin'" | |
| 1979 | "Ladies' Night" |
| "Too Hot" | |
| 1980 | "Hangin' Out" |
| "Celebration" | |
| 1981 | "Take It to the Top" |
| "Jones vs. Jones" | |
| "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" | |
| "Steppin' Out" | |
| "Get Down on It" | |
| 1982 | "No Show" |
| "Big Fun" | |
| "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" | |
| "Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho" | |
| 1983 | "Street Kids" |
| "Straight Ahead" | |
| "Joanna" | |
| 1984 | "Tonight" |
| "(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart" | |
| "Fresh" | |
| "Misled" | |
| 1985 | "Cherish" |
| "Emergency" | |
| 1986 | "Victory" |
| 1987 | "Stone Love" |
| "Holiday" | |
| "Special Way" | |
| "Peace Maker" | |
| 1988 | "Rags to Riches" |
| "Strong" | |
| "Celebration" (remix) | |
| 1989 | "Raindrops" |
| "Never Give Up" | |
| 1991 | "Get Down on It" (remix) |
| 1992 | "(Jump Up on The) Rhythm and Ride" |
| 1996 | "Salute to the Ladies" |
| 2003 | "Ladies Night" (with Atomic Kitten) |
| 2004 | "Fresh" (with Liberty X) |
| "Too Hot" (with Lisa Stansfield) | |
| "Get Down on It" (with Blue & Lil' Kim) | |
| 2005 | "Hollywood Swinging" (with Jamiroquai) |
| "No Show" (featuring Blackstreet) | |
| 2006 | "Steppin' into Love" |
| 2010 | "Miss Lead" (ft. Towanna) |
| 2016 | "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)" |
| 2021 | "Pursuit of Happiness" (Rap Version) |
See also
References
- ↑ Bush, John. Biography of Kool & the Gang at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ↑ Thompson, Dave (August 1, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-0-87930-629-8. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Gary James' Interview With Robert "Kool" Bell Of Kool and The Gang". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- 1 2 "Life, Liberty, and the Kool Kids: An Interview with Robert "Kool" Bell, founding member of Kool & the Gang, and Hakim Bell". NewJerseyStage.com. January 13, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ↑ "Bells haven't cracked after 52 years of 'Kool'". Daily Democrat. February 21, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ↑ Home, Al Firdous Funeral. "Obituary for Sakinah Deborah Bell | Al Firdous Funeral Home". Obituary for Sakinah Deborah Bell | Al Firdous Funeral Home. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ↑ Fleming, Kevin (November 6, 2018). "Condolences to Robert "Kool" Bell on loss of his wife Sakinah – THE URBAN BUZZ". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
