Robert "Kool" Bell

Robert Earl "Kool" Bell (born October 8, 1950), also known by his Muslim name Muhammad Bayyan,[1] is an American musician, singer & songwriter.

Robert "Kool" Bell
Bell in 2011
Bell in 2011
Background information
Birth nameRobert Earl Bell
Also known asKool
Muhammad Bayyan
Born (1950-10-08) October 8, 1950
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
GenresJazz, R&B, soul, funk, dance-pop, disco, boogie
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals
Years active1964–present
LabelsDe-Lite, Mercury
Member ofKool & the Gang
Formerly ofBand Aid

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, along with original member George Brown.

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

  1. Bush, John. Biography of Kool & the Gang at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. Thompson, Dave (August 1, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-0-87930-629-8. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  3. "Gary James' Interview With Robert "Kool" Bell Of Kool and The Gang". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  4. "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.
  5. "Bells haven't cracked after 52 years of 'Kool'". Daily Democrat. February 21, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  6. 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.
  7. Fleming, Kevin (November 6, 2018). "Condolences to Robert "Kool" Bell on loss of his wife Sakinah – THE URBAN BUZZ". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
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