Legendary American band Kool & The Gang back in Nairobi after 14 years

Leader of the American funk and rhythm and blues band Kool & The Gang, Robert 'Kool' Bell when he arrived at the Kenya National Theatre for a press briefing ahead of his show at the KICC. PHOTO: GEORGE ORIDO

Kool & The Gang, an American funk, rhythm and blues band, were due to entertain Kenyans last night in Nairobi.

The band famed for its 70s and 80's hits such as 'Celebration' and 'Oh La La la' is in Nairobi for the second time. They first performed in the country 14 years ago.

"I am very glad to be back here and perform for Kenyans," said Robert Kool Bell, a founder member of the band who landed yesterday morning.

The band was scheduled to perform at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre with tickets going for as high as Sh20,000 for VIP, 10,000 for the lounge and Sh5,000 for the terrace.

Kool had promised a great show, saying fans would get it as original as it could go.

And to make things really fresh, Kool was accompanied by the new and youngest members of the band the Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours) hit vocalist Curtis Williams and Michael Ray.

The manager and a founder member Khalis Bayyan aka Ronald Bell accompanied the group at a press conference held at the Kenya National Theatre yesterday.

Beathogs, also known for their cool rhythm and blues music, were to curtain raise the event.

The concert is supported by the ministries of Sports, Arts and Culture as well as Tourism.

Sarova Hotels General Manager Paolo Marro said they were delighted to host the legendary music group.

"We are excited to host Kool & The Gang and since we are the oldest Hotel in Nairobi we deserve to host this group to follow among other greats we have hosted in our hospitality including Jazz Maestro Louis Armstrong," said Paolo who first met Kool in Ethiopia some years back," he said.

"We are glad to support this venture and we will support more to enable exchange and mentorship of our own artistes," said Dr Joe Okudo, PS Arts and the Culture, who was accompanied by his Tourism counterpart Fatuma Hirsi Mohammed.

Other classics produced by the band include 'Cherish', 'Fresh', 'Get Down On it', 'Too Hot Jungle Boogie', 'Ladies Night', 'Misled Summer Madness', 'Take My Heart' and 'Funky Stuff' among others.

BREAKOUT HIT

According to the band's bio, the group formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-'60s, Kool & the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the '70s, and one of the most popular R&B groups of the '80s after their breakout hit, Celebration in 1979.

Just as funky as James Brown or Parliament, Kool & the Gang relied on their jazz backgrounds and long friendship to form a tightly knit group with the interplay and improvisation of a jazz outfit, plus the energy and spark of a band with equal ties to soul, R&B, and funk.

Robert Kool Bell and his brother Ronald grew up in Jersey City, New Jersy, and picked up the music bug from their father, a professional boxer and a serious jazz lover.

With Robert on bass and Ronald picking up an array of horns, the duo formed the Jazziacs in 1964 with several neighbourhood friends: trombone player Clifford Adams, guitarists Charles Smith and Woody Sparrow, trumpeter Robert Spike Michens, alto saxophonist Dennis Thomas, keyboard player Ricky West, and drummer Funky George Brown all of whom, except Michens and West, still remain in the group more than 30 years later.