Posted on 08/07/2021 6:57:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas died Saturday in New Jersey where he was a longtime resident, his representatives announced. He was 70.
A news released noted the musician, who went professionally by the name "Dee Tee," had "passed away peacefully in his sleep."
No official cause of death has been disclosed.
The Florida native "was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor," the release noted.
"A huge personality while also an extremely private person, Dennis was the alto saxophone player, flutist, percussionist as well as master of ceremonies at the band's shows."
Famous for hits such as "Summer Madness," "Celebration," "Too Hot," "Ladies Night," "Get Down On it," "Cherish," "Fresh" and "Jungle Boogie," Kool & the Gang kicked off the 2021 season of the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 4.
The concert marked the reopening of an iconic venue that had been closed more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was also Thomas' farewell appearance with the band.
Grammy-winning R&B group Kool & the Gang was formed in 1964 by seven teenage friends -- Thomas, brothers Ronald Bell and Robert "Kool" Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith.
The band earned a Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and its music has been featured on the soundtracks of film classics such as Rocky, Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction.
He is predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth Lee Thomas; his sister, Darlene Thomas; and his daughters, Michelle Thomas and Tracy Jackson. Michelle Thomas was an actress on The Cosby Show, Family Matters and The Young and the Restless. She died in 1998.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Phynjuar Saunders Thomas; daughter Tuesday Rankin; sons David Thomas and Devin Thomas; Aunt Mary "Duggie" Jones; sisters Doris Mai McClary and Elizabeth Thomas Ross; brother, Bill Mcleary; and several nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
I didn’t see the view count. Wow…highest I’ve ever seen!
Gotta run for shelter
Gotta run for shade...
A lot of babies were conceived to that jam.
Great live band, seen them several times. Way too young. R.I.P. soul brotha!
Is that a synth or Theramin used in the beginning? Amazing.
Also never realized that Bill Conti ripped off that riff for Rocky two years later. Wow.
Never mind. It was the actual song -- Stallone chose it himself.
Same with Reasons by Earth Wind and Fire which is a very romantic breakup song.
Alan Almond was a late night DJ who had a long running show in Detroit he coined Pillow Talk. It was all love songs and included a lot of deep cuts.
Summer Madness was his midnight sign off song for about 20 years
did he get the jab?
also, “Celebration” was one of the greatest songs of its time.
RIP.
I was just going to post that my favorite Kool & The Gang song was “Too Hot.” That is one of those earworm tunes that you can’t get out of your head for hours. Right up there with “Roseanna” by Toto (as being another earworm tune).
Summer Madness, long version. I just played it to remember him and his band. Even my Millennial/Gen Z kids love it. Truly a classic.
I was a freak I hated disco except it’s where the split tails were...
But this band were more than Disco
They could do a lot more
Not quite maggot brain level
But very good...
Heard Ladies Night on our new ‘80s radio station just yesterday. Yep, an eighties only radio station. Granted the song was 1979 so slightly out of scope.
Hear ya. Funkadelic was acid funk. Kool & Gang was multi-faceted. Semi-disco at most, and only for a short period. Mostly jazzy-funk-pop. Good horn section.
Met him once on tour. “Kool” guy indeed. Very about business, but very kool about it.
RIP
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