00053083598. subject named as. (Terms and conditions). Jan 14. international.la-croix.com. Redd wrote: "I discovered these eight supertalented incomparable young musicians [] I immediately realized that their potential would earn them success unknown by most musicians". Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. [40], The group's seventeenth album, Forever, was released in November 1986. They were joined by Dennis "D.T." In February 1988, news of Taylor's departure from the band to pursue a solo career was reported in the press. . He had his wife, Tia Sinclair Bell, by his side. "Kool & The Gang co-founder Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas died in his sleep today at home in New Jersey, age 70. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Ronald "Khalis" Bell, singer and co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died Wednesday at his U.S. Virgin Islands home at age 68, his rep confirmed to multiple outlets . Over the course of two decades, the band with a tight brand of funk music amassed a catalog . Pope Francis' fiercest opposition: the Church's clerical workforce. Yeah serious sad face. The group consisted of Ronald, his brother Robert "Kool" Bell, Dennis "D.T." Somewhere, someone is always celebrating something.. "The Great New York State Fair mourns the loss of a great musician," the post began. . Robert was their original trumpet player who retired in 1986 due to poor health. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. According to Universal Music, Ronald passed away early in the morning on September 9, 2020. Composers: Ronald Nathan Bell - J.T. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. Robert "Spike . The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Advertisement. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West in 1964 to whip up a unique blend of jazz, soul and funk. . The intro to [that song] is Dennis, Ronald Khalis Bell said. Original trumpet player Robert "Spike" Mickens, who retired in 1986 due to poor health, died at the age of 59 on November 2, 2010, at a nursing home in Far Rockaway, New York. They were also inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. Robert "Spike . "RIP, Dennis Thomas. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The legendary band announced Dee Tee Thomas' death on Saturday, August 7. [45][18] The group had discussed pursuing solo projects during the previous year, with Thomas suggesting the band had considered splitting into twos or threes. He was buried at burial place, Virginia. Learn all about Robert "Spike" Mickens on AllMusic. The album didn't fare well. . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The Clark County coroner saw something at the scene that prompted Metro's homicide unit to investigate. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The Great New York State Fair Facebook page shared atribute to Dennis Thomason Saturday. In 1970, their audacious sophomore set Live at the Sex Machine peaked at #6 on Billboard's R&B chart and yielded three hit singles: Funky Man, Who's Gonna Take the Weight, and I Want to Take You Higher. In 1964, he and six of his friends brothers Ronald "Khalis" Bell and Robert "Kool" Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George . Ronald is survived by his wife, Tia Sinclair Bell. Try again later. [21] It was released in July 1972, and peaked at No. Initially calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band underwent several name . [41] By 1986, the band had scored 14 top 40 singles in the US since 1980, more than Michael Jackson. They most recently released a Christmas album, Kool for the Holidays their 24th studio album in 2013. Following. Hindi, English, Punjabi. Kool & the Gang was first founded in 1964 in New Jersey. Writer Mike Duffy wrote: "They've joined the disco lemmings [] The edge has gone. I still love that album to this day," one person wrote. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The cause of Dan's death is unknown pending the result of a toxicology report. Around this time, the group began to develop their stage performance after they witnessed a set by Willie Feaster and the Mighty Magnificents which, according to Robert Bell, "Blew us away [] We thought, 'Wow, if we want to be in show business, we have to change our act. Thomas was married to Phynjuar Saunders Thomas. Thomas, Ricky West, George Brown, and Charles Smith. Overall, Kool and the Gang has sold more than 70 million albums, according to Rolling Stone. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The group's music has been featured in several movies and video games: Rick West, the group's original keyboardist, who left in 1976 to form his own band, died in 1985. Try again later. His cause of death has not yet been . Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 31 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky . There is a problem with your email/password. The cause of death has not been released. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Ricky West, Charles Smith, and George Brown. Please reset your password. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. [44] The group rehearsed their stage show with a choreographer at Prince's studio at Paisley Park. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. [18], After securing their new name and line-up, Kool & the Gang secured a recording deal with Redd's new independent label, De-Lite Records. Robert "Spike . Boss of Kool and the Gang," one person tweeted. It marked the return of Khalis Bayyan to the group. . Spike, as he was affectionately known as, was a founding member of the R&B group, Kool & the Gang, which was formed in Jersey City NJ in 1964. . The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014. Make sure that the file is a photo. Around the time of his death, the talented musician was working on a solo project called the Kool Baby Brotha Band, as well as a series of animated shorts based on his life calledKool TV and a number of other collaborations. Original trumpet player Robert "Spike" Mickens, who retired in 1986 due to poor health, died at the age of 59 on November 2, 2010, at a nursing home in Far Rockaway, New York. [19] The group entered the studio and recorded their debut album, the all-instrumental Kool and the Gang (1970), with Redd as a producer, arranger, conductor, and partial songwriter. No cause of death has been announced at this time. Death: 2 Nov 2010 (aged 58-59) Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York, USA. The tour included the group establishing their own public service program, devised by Robert Bell and Taylor, which encouraged school children to pursue education, giving free tickets to those with perfect attendance. ADVERTISEMENT. RIP Dennis Thomas, the soul and style of the seminal Kool & The Gang. THOMAS MADE SURE THE BAND 'ALWAYS LOOKED FRESH'. They pumped out hits like "Get down on it," "Jungle Boogie" and "Ladies' Night," with its brassy funk putting it in a class with Earth, Wind and Fire, the Isley Brothers and Sly and the Family Stone. Robert Mickens, LCI Editor in Chief, has lived, studied and worked in Rome for 30 years. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. Edit your search or learn more. The cause of death has not been released. The cause of death was not announced. The cause of his death was unclear at the time. Ronald "Khalis" Bell, singer and co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died Wednesday at his U.S. Virgin Islands home at age 68, his rep confirmed to multiple outlets. The cause of death has not been released. For their debut album, see, Kool & the Gang performing in November 2017, 19641972: Formation and signing with De-Lite, 19731978: First commercial success and low period, 19791988: J.T. The song originated from the lyric "Come on, let's all celebrate" from "Ladies' Night", which inspired Robert Bell to write "an international anthem. In addition to Kool & the Gang, Ronald also worked as a producer and arranger for artists such as the Fugees, Jimmy Cliff, House of Pain, Phillip Glass and Rachid. The average age of a Mickens family member is 68. 1 hit "Celebration" and "Summer Madness,". They later went on to form the Jazziacs with friends Robert "Spike" Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith - eventually becoming Kool & The Gang. Sponsored by Ancestry. He died after a long. 3 The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. The cause of death has not been released. Kool & the Gang won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for "Saturday Night Fever." Thomas , Robert "Spike" Mickens , Charles Smith , George . [35] In January 1980, Ladies' Night was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling one million copies in the US. There was an error deleting this problem. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. The album included two hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Victory" (US #10, R&B #2) and "Stone Love" (US #10, R&B #4). Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. KOOL & The Gangs co-founder and saxophonist Dennis Dee Tee Thomas has died at the age of 70. Robert passed away on November 2 2010, at age 59 in Far Rockaway. In 1964, Ronald Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, joined Jersey City neighborhood friends Robert "Spike" Mickens, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. robert spike'' mickens cause of death. Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas, alto saxophonist and co-founder of hit-making funk and pop band Kool & the Gang, passed away Saturday at the age of 70. No cause of death was given. Lung cancer killed nearly 140,000 Americans in 2019, making it the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S And this month is also National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Oops, something didn't work. A cause of death has yet to be determined. Taylor - Sandy Linzer - James L. Bonnefond - Curtis Williams - Charles Smith - Robert Bell - George Melvin Brown - Curtis Fitzgerald Williams - Dennis Ronald Thomas - James Taylor - Robert Spike Mickens - George Ronald Brown Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Arnold Lee Mickens Obituary, Death Cause: On the 27th of January 2022, TVDeathRay received information about the death of Arnold Lee Mickens via a Social Media post. [26] The Force and Everybody's Dancin' displayed the group's attempt to adopt disco elements with female vocalists and a string section, but Robert Bell later said the group got "Too fancy and over-creative [] We got away from the basic Kool & the Gang sound [] and the public didn't like it". Joe Gill/The Express-Times/AP. . Taylor to the line-up. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The cause of death has not been released. She starred in the sitcom Family Matters. Guitarist Charles Smith died after a long illness in 2006 and was replaced by the Bells' youngest brother, Amir Bayyan, former leader of the Kay Gees. Ronald "Khalis" Bell, a co-founder, singer and producer of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA, Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York, USA. ). As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He was 57. Robert Mickens, the Rome correspondent for the London Tablet has a lengthy article on the SSPX saga in this week's Tablet here . Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. [12] All of them, except Smith, attended Lincoln High School in Jersey City. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B, and pop. . A system error has occurred. "An original member of Kool & the Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor," his bandmates wrote. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Learn more about managing a memorial . Ron Wynn of Allmusic called the album "a completely faceless, aimless record probably the worst album of their career. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens . The change in style affected their ability to secure as many dates than before, working "just off and on" during this time. Bell died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands Wednesday morning with his wife by his side, publicist Sujata Murthy said. "[46] Unite, the band's nineteenth studio album, was released in 1992. Try again later. . Mickens' and Rummell's deaths are the seventh and eighth homicides in 2022, putting the city and county on pace for a new record. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Text "RICKEY" to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang (1969). [57] Adams, who had been with Kool & The Gang since 1977, had no health insurance to cover medical expenses. The album was produced by Khalis Bayyan before his 2020 death.[54]. As yet, no cause of death has been revealed. The cause of death has not been released. Ronald "Khalis" Bell, a co-founder of funk mainstays Kool & The Gang who sang, co-wrote songs and played saxophone, died Wednesday at his U.S. Virgin Islands home.He was 68. [27][28] The latter album received negative responses; one review for Everybody's Dancin' had the headline: "Kool and the Gang have gone bland." [21] The album went to No. Thomas also had a daughter, Michelle, who starred in Family Matters. Robert Mickens Jr. Robert (Coon Cane) Mickens Jr., 78, of Richmond, departed this life October 11, 2002. Add to your scrapbook. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens . Bell started the group with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell along with neighborhood friends Dennis "D.T." How to say Robert Spike Mickens in English? Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The cause of death has not been released. Robert "Spike . Kool & the Gang were one of the most successful R&B and pop groups of the 1980s, placing more singles in the pop top ten during the first half of that decade. IPI name number. 540. . [38] That November, during a visit to Phonogram's offices in London, Bob Geldof arrived to pitch his idea of the multi-artist charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" . No cause of death was immediately provided. Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, a co-founder of the legendary soul-funk band Kool and the Gang, died on Saturday at age 70, the group announced. The cause of death has not been released. [5][47] 2004 saw the release of yet another album featuring remakes and some new songs. Brokaw did not know the cause of death. By the 1970s, they had become one of the most popular and celebrated musical groups, blending jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. . He started the band with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell in 1964. Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas, often referred to as "Dee Tee," has died. Browse 67 robert mickens stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West.They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. . Average Age & Life Expectancy Robert Mickens lived 12 years shorter than the average Mickens family member when he died at the age of 56. Failed to delete memorial. 33 on the album chart, became their first gold album for selling 500,000 copies, and spawned the single "Funky Stuff", which entered the Top 40 pop chart. Throughout the seventies, this blend produced a string of hits including "Jungle Boogie," Ronald Bell and his brother Robert 'Kool' Bell formed the band in 1964 by teaming up with neighborhood friends Dennis 'D.T." Ronald was born on November 1, 1951, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Aminah Bayyan and Robert "Bobby" Bell. He brought the hip jazz in the late 60s, Hollywood Swinging/Jungle Boogie, a Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, adamant to be the kings of the disco scene, and to become the most sampled act in hip-hop classics pic.twitter.com/Rx2c0wdxJs, NEW YORK STATE FAIR PAID TRIBUTE TO THOMAS. The long-running group fused jazz, soul and funk. Thomas formed Kool & the Gang in 1964 with bassist Robert "Kool" Bell and his brother, the late tenor saxophonist Ronald Bell, along with drummer George Brown, guitarist Charles Smith, trumpeter Robert "Spike" Mickens and pianist Ricky Westfield. Today. He was 70 years old. 21 on the UK R&B Albums chart. Find out about soul singer Robert Kool Bell: Age, net worth, siblings, What he did before fame, his family life Fun facts: before fame, family life, popularity rankings, and more Translate Robert Mickens passed away at age 57 years old in February 1978. Back in 1964 New Jersey teenagers - brothers Ronald "Khalis" Bell and Robert "Kool" Bell and their friends "Dee Tee," Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith - decided to form a band that was originally called the Jazziacs. Thomas, Robert 'Spike' Mickens . ``Weve lost a member of our family, as well as an infinitely creative and gifted artist who was with the band from the very beginning, band manager Tia Sinclair said in a statement. Bell is survived by his wife, Tia Sinclair Bell; his 10 children; grandchildren; brothers Robert, Wahid Bayyan and Amir Bayyan, and sister Sharifah Bayyan. Ronald "Khalis" Bell, a co-founder, songwriter, saxophonist, vocalist and producer of the chart-topping group Kool & The Gang, died Wednesday morning at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The band said Thomas "passed away peacefully in his sleep" in New Jersey. ", "I was reading Scripture where the creator's gonna create and made an announcement that he's gonna create this human thing to angels, and the angels were celebrating him for doing so, and thats also where the idea came from," Bell told Rolling Stone in 2015 of the inspiration behind 1980's "Celebration. Their next album, Music Is the Message, was the first time the group self-produced one of their records. Please enter your email and password to sign in. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Robert "Spike . cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Their . Chio said Saturday he did not know what the suspicious circumstances were, but the coroner . The group was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement . The cause of death has not been released. This article is about the band. Bell died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Wednesday morning with. . He was also the. Kool & the Gang member and co-founder Ronald 'Khalis' Bell dead at 68 Thomas is survived by his wife, Phynjuar Saunders Thomas, sons, David and Devin, and daughter, Tuesday Rankin. [42] In July 1986, the band recorded a special version of "Celebration" with different vocals that was used in an advertisement for Wendy's.[43]. Elizabeth Alvarado and Robert Mickens are the parents of Nisa Mickens, who was chased down and murdered by the vicious MS-13 gang in a string of highly publicized Long Island murders. . 1989 saw the release of the band's 18th album Sweat. [26] "Summer Madness" was also used in Rocky (1976), but not released on its soundtrack album.[26]. subject named as. Please try again later. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. There was a problem getting your location. Kool & the Gang won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for "Saturday Night Fever." He was an original member of the musical group "Kool and the Gang". 1951, Jersey Cityd. Born on Sept. 6, 1948, in Jersey City, N.J., he was introduced to jazz guitar by his father in the early 1960s. [18], In 2015, 50 years after formation, the group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. By the spring of 1973, Kool & the Gang had started to observe disco music trends, which influenced the band to become what Robert Bell described as "a much harder, funkier, tighter" unit than before. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US. Ronald "Khalis" Bell has sadly passed away at the age of 68. "[18] Their three albums released during this time, Open Sesame (1976), The Force (1977), and Everybody's Dancin' (1978), failed to generate the same commercial or critical acclaim as their previous records. This browser does not support getting your location. [38][39] In 1985, Bell said the band retained control of their own business affairs, avoiding to hire management on a full-time basis and preferring to hire consultants and agents for each project or a single term. . The reason for his death hasn't been disclosed. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West rounded out the rest of the band.Also Read: 'Lockdown': Anne Hathaway in Talks to Star in Doug Liman . Rest In Power, Dennis Thomas," another said. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Born on Nov. 1, 1951, Bell, along with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell, formed a band with their pals Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown . Alzheimer disease is the 7 th leading cause of death in the country, accounting for over 133,000 deaths in 2020, according to provisional data. Robert "Spike . Kool & the Gang was formed in 1964 in Jersey City, NJ, by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald "Khalis" Bell. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. [18] All songs on this album were written by Khalis Bayyan and Taylor. His cause of death has not yet been announced. Thomas, brothers Ronald Bell and Robert "Kool" Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith. No further details about his cause of death were revealed. He died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands and it was reportedly a sudden death. [23][8] Later that year, Celebrate! "In the bands early days, Dennis also served as thebudget hawk, carrying the groups earnings in a paper bag inthe bell of his horn., DENNIS THOMAS REMEMBERED AS 'BOSS OF KOOL AND THE GANG'. During his life he was the father to 10 kids. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Michelle Thomas, the daughter of Dennis Thomas, was remembered by her co-stars in a cast reunion. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He was co-founder of the Grammy Award-winning group Kool & the Gang which formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964. Meet the Talented Emerging Artists That Should Be on Your Playlists This Spring, Grammys 2022: See the Complete List of Winners on Music's Biggest Night. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. Oops, we were unable to send the email. He was. Kool & the Gang participated in the project. The cause of death has not been released. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). One of his children is singer Rachid "Rasalus" Bell, who often performs under the stage name Ra. "Everyone around the world, come on, there's a celebration every second of our lives. Kool & the Gang grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop. In 1987, the band completed a 50-city tour of the US. Smith died in Maplewood, N.J., on Tuesday after a long illness, publicist David Brokaw said Thursday. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert Mickens. Taylor, Deodato partnership, and commercial peak, "Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces 2018 Inductees Songwriters Hall of Fame", "Kool & The Gang's 'Celebration' at the Marian Anderson Award ceremony", "Gold & Platinum Search Kool & the Gang Singles", "Gold & Platinum Search Kool & the Gang Albums", "Interview: Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool & The Gang", "Interview: Robert Kool Bell of Kool & The Gang", "Kool & The Gang Booking A&M Entertainment", "The Kool Gang: A guitar, a dream, recruitment", "Key Tracks: Kool & the Gang's "Ladies Night", "Kool and the Gang's Robert 'Kool' Bell: The Cream Interview", "Kool & the Gang Look Back on 50 Years of Funk", "Kool and the Gang very hot on the charts and in sports", "Gang's Still Kool After All These Years", "Kool & The Gang return to Caesars Thursday", "Kool & The Gang making the '80s their own", "Forever > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles", "Kool & the Gang Hottest Groupof the 80s", "Advertising; Wendy's Spot Created By Lockhardt & Pettus", "Kool & The Gang 'Outstanding Achievement' Acceptance Speech 2003", "Kool and the Gang: Still Kool (Top Soul Albums)", "Kool & the Gang Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", "The gang's back again: Kool & the Gang return home to Jersey City", "Kool & the Gang Announce New Album Perfect Union, Share New Song", "Kool & The Gang trombonist Clifford Adams dies aged 62", "Kool and the Gang trombonist and Trenton native passes away after struggle with liver cancer", "Ronald Bell, Co-Founder, Songwriter And Producer Of Kool & The Gang, Dead At 68", "Kool And The Gang Co-Founder Dennis 'D.T.'