Kool & the Gang drummer is dead
The songwriter, drummer and co-founder of the legendary funk band Kool & the Gang has died. George "Funky" Brown succumbed to cancer in California. His family was by his side until the end.
The musician George "Funky" Brown is dead, according to several US media outlets. The co-founder and drummer of Kool & the Gang was 74 years old. A spokesperson for the band confirmed to the US magazine "People" that Brown fell asleep peacefully in Long Beach, California.
"We lost our beloved husband and father, Kool & the Gang founding member George Brown, last night," reads a statement from Brown's family. "He passed away peacefully at Long Beach Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family." They will miss "his incredible talent and presence", which will never be forgotten.
According to the industry magazine "The Hollywood Reporter", a spokesperson for Universal Music Enterprises confirmed that Brown had died as a result of cancer. When asked how he would describe his own music, Brown always replied: "It's the sound of happiness."
Songwriter of "Ladies' Night"
Brown was one of the first members of the legendary funk band that became known as Kool & the Gang in 1969. Not only was he on drums, but according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he was also one of the main songwriters behind some of the group's biggest hits - including "Celebration", "Jungle Boogie" and "Ladies' Night". The band's songs have been sampled by countless acts over the past few decades, including Nas, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.
Brown was one of the longest-serving members of Kool & the Gang alongside Robert "Kool" Bell and saxophonist Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, who died in 2021. It was only in July that Kool and the Gang released a new album, People Just Want to Have Fun, which Brown produced. In the same month, he published his memoirs "Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me". In August, however, he officially decided to retire from music.
The news of George "Funky" Brown's passing has caused a wave of mourning in the music industry. His contribution to universal music, particularly as a songwriter for Kool & the Gang's hit "Ladies' Night", will continue to entertain and inspire generations.
Source: www.ntv.de
