kool and the gang live in cannes(midem) 1975

[@solomonizeal5674]

Fantastic, I saw them on Farmers Blvd in Queens at a lounge back in the day, yeah I'm old but I still got soul, their musicianship has stood the test of time.

[@kool-808]

What was Ricky and the band in general like, I know what most of em sound like but I don’t think there's any video clips of Ricky especially speaking.

[@penwahpenwah]

Now that’s my husband I will always remember us this way! OMG HOW I MISS THIS MUSIC SPIKE CHUCKY RICKY GEORGE OMG LOOK AT OTHA NASH GB HUMAN DRUM MACHINE THANKYOU who ever posted this lest we forget!

[@johnhenningfield4360]

Bless your heart Mrs. Penwah Penwah and I'd like to say that I am a musician who plays Alto Saxophone and Flute, Congas because of Mr. Dennis "D.T." Thomas, I absolutely loved how they played together as a band and everyone contributes and made Kool & the Gang the iconic band they are. I will love the music always 🎶

[@olderface9939]

Dad was definitely the funkiest man to ever grace the sticks. Thanks @funkybeebop1 for posting this

[@nytony748]

Still waiting for Kool & The Gang to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!

[@Nanbebe7]

How can rappers get in there before the gang! They are the God Fathers of Hip Hop

[@standaman1963]

@@Nanbebe7 GREAT POINT!

[@rodwms]

No need the r&r hall is straight TRASH...

[@terencemiguana]

Its happening just gotta vote for em right away!

[@johnhenningfield4360]

They finally got there, with Mr. Robert “Kool” Bell being the surviving member of the original seven.

[@wahidbayyan3836]

Great piece of historic video. I remember when my brother Ronald Bell discovered that he could do circular breath and hold that note on his Soprano sax for as long as he wanted to.The rest of the family that was at home listening and watching him do it thought that his neck was going to explode.

[@robertbright-jc3sd]

Wahid Bayyan Peace Brother I just wanted to let you know that your Brothers Robert , Ronald and your cousin Royale were some of the most genuine Brothers I ever met in music I with my Brother have been Fan's since 1968 Peace. Just a quick story my Brother and I never missed seeing Kool and the Gang at the Apollo never and we always seemed to get seats in the front. two rows or the front row itself and we watched and studied everything they did and one night they had taken notice of us because we were young kids at the time and they took the time during their performance too acknowledge us then later gave us autographs and wrote down the chords for our favorite songs they played I will never forget them or that night thank you Kool and the Gang for making my musical journey and life special.

[@wahidbayyan3836]

Mr@@robertbright-jc3sd, I apologize for just now seeing your message. But your words did not fade with time. It warms my soul to hear positive things that my brothers have inspired. Since I grew up around these tremendously blessed gentlemen I've always considered all of them as my brothers and that's always been the way they've treated me. Thank you for taking the time to share your memory of your experience with my family. My God bless you and your family.

[@robertbright-jc3sd]

How are you Brother Wahid Bayyan I am also sorry about the late response I had to purchase a new device I want to thank you for your kind response again your Family members act of kindness towards my younger Brother and myself will stay with me forever continued Blessings to you and your family

[@robertbright-jc3sd]

Greetings Brother Wahid Bayyan, Myself and my Family would like to extend our condolences to you and your Family at this time your Brother Mr. Ronald Khalis Bayyan will always hold a special place in my heart for his Kindness that he along with the members of Kool and The Gang shown my Brother and myself and gift of their Music that will be FOREVER. Stay Strong and Peace and Blessings to You and Your Family.

[@alifarrent5249]

Hello, are there recordings or music archive available on the Jazziacs ?

[@skinnyman1434]

I was Blessed to have seen this tour when they came to the Amphitheater for Black Expo. No will ever forget the "note." I wish our kids had a Black Expo to go to.

[@Nanbebe7]

Sadly only Kool and George remain! I’ll always support them! Best band ever 🔥

[@brodocbetty4856]

Their great but the best ever band is Earth Wind and Fire.

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

Grew listening to these guys and learning their songs. When I was in a band back in the 70's and 80's, if you could play Kool And The Gang songs, you were guaranteed to get a gig lol!

[@calebdouglas7622]

@@brodocbetty4856 Amen to that

[@distortsequel]

@@EricBlackmonGuitar figures you could be found here. Your lessons are a godsend man.

[@mariomarjan]

​​@@brodocbetty4856 only orchestration...harmony..

[@StevenBrown-wf3do]

Flaws I look at it it's the greatest band from out of Jersey City New Jersey love you guys straight ahead

[@adrianlyord5300]

Oh yeah another Great example of a Funk Band with its own unique sound ! The horns.... The Bass Guitar.... The Drummer... The Guitarist ... Ladies and Gentleman Kool And The Gang! 🎸🇺🇸

[@bsshh]

Unequivocally the BEST Kool and the Gang Band configuration because these are the original members! The other members who came later cannot touch these brothers!!! Being in The Nation of Islam had a direct impact on their musical ideas and their very spiritual and serene compositions at that time! The late Spike Mickens on Trumpet was outstanding! The late Charles Smith on Guitar was smooth as silk! Funky George on drums was awesome, I can hear some Max Roach influence in his solo. Rick West on Piano was as cool as you get! And Ronald Bell on Tenor and Soprano Sax was ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!

[@robertbright-jc3sd]

Pussy Funk Yes they were a part of the Nation of Islam including their guitarist Brother Claydes X Smith and trombone player Brother Otha X Nash.

[@Nanbebe7]

Love them

[@oswaldjames6295]

Aw c' Mon, the Addition of James Taylor, at Kool's insistence, REALLY took KTG into the Mainstream and their record sales SKYROCKETED!!

[@dlonra65]

bsshh well said…and when JT and Michael Ray came aboard

[@dlonra65]

Classic Kool and the Gang with all original members plus Otha Nash...untouchable rare footage

[@wallace19100]

The funkiest, baddest boogie in the land! What a band! Plus, look at those suits. Solid.

[@troycurtis6768]

Great music I had a chance and caught Kool & the gang at Rock Creek Park in Washington DC I never knew they could play so well been in love with their music ever since

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

those guys were MASTER Musicians, even back then/1975

[@gregorybell6861]

I am A Big Kool ang the Gang fan. And this is Classic Kool ang the Gang. The 70s.

[@thorntonwilliams3851]

,Best Era of their music

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

them boys, even back then. were serious/GREAT musicians.

[@franknelson4544]

Yes, they were serious musicians, they were originally a jazz band, Charles Cletus Smith was great on guitar. 1st time I met them. I helped them unload the equipment off the back of a pick up truck Central high school Newark, I didn’t know who they were until they started playing the title song cool in the gang. That was their first hit listen to chocolate buttermilk. You’ll see what I mean. I miss DT. He used to treat me like I was his little brother they will all be missed.

[@brodocbetty4856]

Excellent musicians, Very underrated.

[@Duane-tl2zc]

When they were real Funky and Jazzy 😉

[@kennywellington]

Love this footage...love watchin' Spike playing that horn especially:)

[@marvinm.messier1120]

What a treat. Top notch band. Thanks for posting.

[@georgiasteiman5526]

Great band so talented

[@joesophie90]

That was incredibly good.

[@donitavann108]

Rest Well Bro. KHALIS BAYYAN ❤🖤💚

[@mariomarjan]

THE BEST BAND EVER !

[@lisadawnmarble6560]

😊😊🙏🏼Clifford Adams Jr.🙏🏼 became part of Kool And The Gang in 1977. Kool And The Gang is THE MOST INSPIRING, EDUCATIONAL music band Ever in the world🌎🌏. MARCH 31, 2024. Lisadawn Marble USA

[@sparkymcplumpthepolydactyl2079]

That rhythm section is killing it

[@thommeinert9072]

Exceptional!!! Performance Excellence! Thank you Kool & The Gang. Peace. Musician/Artist- USA ThomMeinert

[@jonsilence]

I had the great pleasure of seeing this original and classic lineup of Kool & the Gang at Disneyland, right around the time of this video. They were exactly as you see them here, masters of oldschool jazz funk and absolutely ON IT. Drummer George Brown was phenomenal, giving Tony Wiliams a good run for his money. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

[@acarterjazz]

This was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!! This was when Otha Nash joined the group on trombone. Love the footage from this era, my favorite time period of this band.

[@phenixreturns]

this drum solo is very great

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

George Brown, he just passed away.

[@mariomarjan]

Robert Spike Mickens - GENIUS DT Thomas - GENIUS Ronald Bell - GENIUS

[@voodooonevipersonstation663]

It’s my dream to have a band that sounds like this, already got a guitar player and an alto player, myself is a Clari/tenor man, but im missing the rest.

[@carltonwhite9682]

EWF, WAR, P-Funk, Kool and The Gang, and Mandrill were my favorite 1970s R&B super groups, with a hail Mary to Average White Band amongst the many deserving others!!!!! I am first and foremost a jazz aficionado, but these groups brought far more than the usual "chitlin circuit" funk. Is Mint Condition the last of an otherwise extinct breed of artist?

[@warrencox7852]

I fear they might be...

[@kelceymccray5265]

At this moment yes sir.

[@sugaball1]

Kool & The Gang, EWF, Sly & Family Stone, Ohio Players & War “were my top 5 bands”...

[@carltonwhite9682]

There were other bands with damn near a whole country in group that were Killa besides the top end... New Birth fits the bill, "I can understand it." Again, I'm a true jazz nut, you have to be able to read it, write it, and be able to play by ear. So, the groups I preferred were able to handle a bill with Return to Forever, Weather Report, and Herbie's Headhunters...If you couldn't roll like that, at least a modicum of "smooth jazz talent" (not crazy about taking the easy road), you couldn't ball

[@jalebjaba1487]

They started out an contemporary instrumental Jazz band .These cat’s were very versatile. Nice guys. Kool rip.

[@garythomas6443]

A GREAT Band from the beginning!!! And I was there! R.I.P. Ronald, Dennis, Spike, Clayde, and Ricky. The only ones left from the original band are Kool and George Brown.

[@dlonra65]

And now George is sadly gone too

[@Cosmic_Messenger]

MAN THIS IS AMAZING!!!!! Just now seeing this for the first time!!! This post is a huge gift to the world and the yet-to-be born!

[@ilhankac3633]

Man, the horns and D.T how he is dancing at the end is amazing

[@elenaprestonelenapreston7473]

Nice music. Amazing voice wow

[@michaeldean9338]

Kinda sounds as if they had a night they simply didn't want to hear-- nor play-- this song. It happens. God Bless all of these VERY talented musicians. When Soul and R&B bands were BANDS!!!

[@alifarrent5249]

Loves G . Brown. Great drummer.

[@penwahpenwah]

THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND WE THOUGHT THEYD NEVER END

[@cooper4936]

All-time classic❤❤❤

[@johnhenningfield4360]

Rest In Peace Ronald "Khalis" Bell 🎷🎷🎷

[@juliangonzales744]

RARE GEM!

[@bp5269]

"Absolutely.Awesome"

[@dme1016]

With the recent passing of sax man Dennis Thomas, the 3 original horn players are some, along with guitarist Claydes. The original funk sound of the band changed when they added a lead singer & did crossover songs like Celebrate & Ladie's Night. But, they had to feed their families, & the funk band era sound had passed.

[@charlesbrazell2136]

Agree with you-and I was sad to see the Funk era come to an end; it went too soon in my opinion...12-20-22.

[@gabeeskridge8291]

@@charlesbrazell2136 Bread MUST BE PUT ON THE TABLE.

[@gregsz1ful]

Good variations from jazz to KC & Sunshine Band. Cant beat a big band.

[@sevinatenine4444]

THIS PROVES ALL OVER AGAIN THAT JAZZ IS THE TEACHER AND FUNK IS THE PREACHER.

[@jonsilence]

From the golden era when music was created and actually played by skilled musicians, not sampled and spun on a turntable by crate robbers!

[@saj8]

FOH with that nonsense.

[@fabricio4794]

You said the true Jon,giving a sincere hit,that was very true,Real Musicians,today we have a Laptop trying to pretend that sings...autotune and all of this bad gimmicks...Greetings From Brasil(passin thrhu the worst mainstream music times)....

[@jonsilence]

@@fabricio4794: Olá e obrigado pelo apoio Fabricio!

[@allen6924]

I first heard as a jazz ensamble in early 65? I grew up listening to jazz. Then you hear Kool and the Gang. It's like hearing Miles Davis for the first time. Or other artists that you understand are taking you on a musical journey. They're in the panteón of popular music. In my opinion.

[@alphonsepetitboudu6552]

C'est tellement bon que ça devrait être illégal. 😁

[@rdcruiser4396]

Wow! Funky Stuff live!!!

[@penwahpenwah]

THE ROOT OF THE TRUTH THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN IM HERE TO TELL YA

[@jamesgrobertson8024]

Incredible ❤

[@cashcurry9978]

This footage is unreal, this is The ORIGInal Kool and The Gang, 4 brothers Nation Of Islam FOI

[@kennywellington]

And of course all the other guys:)

[@salifores3720]

Jeffrey Stanberry, Snyder high school I know Kool did Lincoln hs I last seen Kool downtown jersey city in front of the Boys and Girls club got a autograph for My kids. I knew Debbie R.I.P. and Diane and Brenda and their brother and dog pudding. And your friend and mine Moses Pooche Balon. WHY DIDN'T YALL RELEASE MISSY. I USE TO WATCH Y'ALL AT P.S. 14 ALL THE TIME AND THE NAME OF THE GAME MARSHALL BALON CLUB ON JACKSON AVE. LOVE YOU GUYS. MOSES WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME ABOUT RICKY R.I.P. LOVE Y'ALL AND THE MANHATTANS TOO.

[@salifores3720]

Ronald Bell Peace and Blessings R.I.P.

[@s.maisonyoungii2292]

71`..a million in the bank by age 30yrs. ...live off the interest

[@salifores3720]

And SPIKE R.I.P.

[@cymonehicks2386]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@gypsyjhoni]

HOT!

[@penwahpenwah]

KB I can’t!

[@AllanCash]

Who's singing lead?

[@johnhenningfield4360]

Ricky West (Keyboard, Vocals) Dennis Thomas (Alto Sax, Flute, Percussion, Vocals)

[@joesophie90]

​@@johnhenningfield4360 Was Ricky West, Kool and the Gangs original main vocalist? I believe he sings on the track "Fruitman" from 1974 by KATG.​

[@johnhenningfield4360]

@@joesophie90 "Yes 👍, and Dennis Thomas and George Brown were the lead vocalist in Kool and the Gang. They all shared in the responsibilities of Background vocals as a group also but in the early formation those 3 members did the singing.

[@joesophie90]

@@johnhenningfield4360 Thank you for this info. They were all so incredibly talented.

[@kool-808]

⁠@@johnhenningfield4360 Which is why I don't understand why they needed J.T. Taylor in the first place. 😂 They could all clearly sing good, especially Ricky, they already had vocal talent, I feel like J.T. was just an unneeded addition to the original lineup.

[@waynefoote3781]

What about the FUNK HALL OF FAME??? Where is THAT!@

[@robertmarion4457]

Jerseys city

[@cymonehicks2386]

💎💎💎💎💎

[@salifores3720]

Didn't y'all do a PURPLE ONIONS OR GREEN ONIONS I HEARD IT IN P.S. 14 on the weekend y'all tore it down.

[@cymonehicks2386]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@aubreytaylor7942]

Where's DONNIE BOYCE????

[@charlesbrazell2136]

Good question-he was THE BOOGIE MAN! 12-20-22.

[@aztechno42]

Bocchi and the Gang

[@gretchenbray2268]

Love it! But it sounds more orchestra then funk! I like funk better!

[@alifarrent5249]

331 like. A joke ?

[@alifarrent5249]

It smells disco. But too good musiciens to play far beyond

[@Nanbebe7]

Funk

[@fallspeed]

Nice performance, but they're playing a bit too fast so they're losing the funky rhythm a little.

[@alexrod3467]

В 70-х эта группа - такое себе… 💩