In an era of flashing disco lights and shiny spandex, Kool and the Gang were icons of funky party music, with hits such as "Get Down on It," "Celebration," "Jungle Boogie" and "Ladies Night" still being heard nightly across dance floors all over the world. CNNGo gets down with original member Robert "Kool" Bell who spoke on behalf of the band, prior to their appearance at this year's Mosaic Music Festival from now until March 21. 

Kool and the Gang in action

Robert Bell: Yes, we are and we’re excited about coming to Singapore.

CNNGo: How will you keep your cool in sunny Singapore, and what's some of your favorite local foods?

Bell: We have been to Singapore before and we will try to hang out in the shade and drink nice Kool lemonade. We'll be chowing down on chicken rice.

CNNGo: How did Kool and the Gang get started? You're all old friends, right?

Bell: Kool and The Gang started in 1964. We had several name changes. We started off playing Jazz, our name at that time was the Jazziacs. After that we called ourselves New Dimensions. Then we changed our name to Kool and The Flame but later had to change it because at that time James Brown and the Famous Flames were a well known group. In 1964 we created the name Kool and The Gang. We came out with our first record. We are all good friends and we all grew up together.

CNNGo: How did you decide to shift from jazz to pop-funk?

Bell: (Laughs) We started off playing Jazz, more funkier music and into a mix of Funk and Jazz. In the 1970s we did more of a funk sound like our songs "Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swingin'" and "Jungle Boogie." In the 1980s our sound was more pop like our songs "Ladies' Night," "Celebration," "Fresh."

CNNGo: Some of the dance moves were funky. Did you have to spend a lot of time on your routines for the shows?

Bell: We did rehearse a lot. We’ve made various changes to our routines and we’ve had several choreographers over the years.

CNNGo: Your music has been used for several films, such as "Rocky", "Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fiction". That must have been crazy. Did you meet Travolta?

Bell: We never met John Travolta but it was all interesting. We were happy that Mr Travolta and the producers used our music in their various films that he did.

CNNGo: We love the old band photos. You guys really had some stylish threads. Best outfits?

Bell: I would have to say they were the outfits that we wore on the album cover "Something Special."

CNNGo: Your first hits were mainly instrumental, like the smash "Jungle Boogie". How did you choose James Taylor for your lead singer?

Bell: When we decided that we wanted to get a lead singer we were in New Jersey working at the House of Music and JT worked there as well. The Producer that we were working with at the time Eumir Deodato (Grammy Award-winning Brazilian musician, record producer and arranger) heard that we were looking for a lead singer and recommended we try out JT. He auditioned and we liked him. We thought that he had the right blend of sound for what we were trying to do and what we were looking for in a lead singer.

getting there

Kool & the Gang in Concert
March 20, 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
www.koolandthegang.com