Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. In mid-1976, Kool & the Gang entered a period of commercial decline; Rolling Stone writer Geoff Himes wrote the disco-era "frowned on [their] loose and greasy approach to dance music. Dan served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2012 to . [34] The group's first choice, Stevie Wonder, was too busy to work with them. 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. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bell and the band toured as a legacy group. Post author: Post published: June 10, 2022 Post category: extinction rebellion suisse Post comments: british gas smart meter pairing pin british gas smart meter pairing pin The cause of death was not given. The weekly British Catholic magazine The Tablet and its Rome correspondent Robert Mickens, an American who is a longtime Vatican analyst, have severed ties after nine years of working together.. Robert "Spike . If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. [] LOS ANGELES (AP) Ronald "Khalis" Bell, a co-founder, singer and producer of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. 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. Thomas, Robert 'Spike' Mickens . based on information from your browser. 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. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert Mickens. These were their final albums before their amicable split with Redd. Pope Benedict XVI said at his general audience on Wednesday that . Thomas passed away in his sleep in New Jersey . https://t.co/sh9tNAtCln. Explore Robert "Spike" Mickens's discography including top tracks, albums, and reviews. Michelle Thomas, the daughter of Dennis Thomas, was remembered by her co-stars in a cast reunion. 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. Mickens, Robert Spike Type: Person Gender: Male Born: 1951 Born in: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States Died: 2010-11-02 (aged 59)Died in: Far Rockaway, New York, New York, United States Area: United States IPI code: 00053083598 IPI code: 00063846754 ISNI code: 0000 0003 7244 6768 Rating. He was 68. Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/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, rhythm and blues, soul . Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA, Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York, USA. . [37] Bonnefond stayed with the group for Emergency (1984), which remains their highest selling album with over two million copies sold in the US. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The cause of death has not been released. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Sponsored by Ancestry. No cause of death has been revealed. [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?" He was preceded in death by his wife, Harryetta Mickens; and son, Robert Mickens III. Robert "Spike" Mickens Charles Smith . The cause of death has not been released. ", "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. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Dan was 38 at the time of his death. . According to Universal Music, Ronald passed away early in the morning on September 9, 2020. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Composers: Ronald Nathan Bell - J.T. The cause of death has not been released. 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. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. RIP Dennis Thomas, the soul and style of the seminal Kool & The Gang. After a brief downturn, the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the '80s. Robert "Spike . Spike, as he was. At the time of his death, Bell was working on his solo endeavor, Kool Baby Brotha Band, as well as animated shorts about the group called Kool TV, per Variety. 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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. In 1964, Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, joined their neighborhood friends Dennis "D.T." On June 30, 1984, Dennis Thomas performed on stage while supporting Elton John at Wembley Stadium in London, England. No official cause of death has been disclosed. The cause of death has not been released. jasper county, missouri assessor property search, Fuzhou International Mail Processing Center, dr ntr university of health sciences transcripts, transfer google authenticator to new phone without old phone, why is there a shortage of knorr hollandaise sauce, santa barbara high school student death 2021. "RIP, Dennis Thomas. Their . Born in Jersey City, New Jersey. . 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). No cause of death was given. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West. He was 68. Robert tried boxing, but only lasted a year. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The Hits Reloaded contained collaborations with artists such as Atomic Kitten, Lisa Stansfield and Jamiroquai. After several years of consideration, and at the suggestion of promoter turned SOLAR Records founder Dick Griffey, they brought in a dedicated lead vocalist to become a focal point of their music. The cause of Irene Mickens' death on July 12, however, was all-too apparent, according to Sandy Springs police. [41] By 1986, the band had scored 14 top 40 singles in the US since 1980, more than Michael Jackson. He died after a long. 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. 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. PhillyMag first reported Wednesday that the Montgomery County Coroner's Office determined Mickens committed suicide. He died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands and it was reportedly a sudden death. Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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 The legendary band announced Dee Tee Thomas' death on Saturday, August 7. He was 70 years old. June 23, 2006 LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Claydes Charles Smith, a co-founder and lead guitarist of the group Kool & the Gang, has died. robert spike'' mickens cause of death. Born on Sept. 6, 1948, in Jersey City, N.J., he was introduced to jazz guitar by his father in the early 1960s. Later in that decade he was in a group of New Jersey jazz musicians, including Ronald Bell (later Khalis Bayyan), Robert ``Kool Bell, George Brown, Dennis Thomas and Robert ``Spike Mickens, who became Kool & the Gang. Search above to list available cemeteries. Get push notifications with news, features and more. He was 57. Some of the band's hits include Celebration, Get Down On It and Ladies' Night. "[11] Also at this time, the group were asked to deliver songs with vocals. English Ronald "Khalis" Bell's publicist, Sujata Murthy, confirmed that the hip-hop legend passed away on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 9 at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to USA Today. Dee Teewas the groups wardrobe stylist who made sure they always looked fresh. The cause of death has not been released. Gaana.com presents the Best of Robert Spike Mickens songs for you. Posted by June 8, 2022 real police badge vs fake on robert spike'' mickens cause of death June 8, 2022 real police badge vs fake on robert spike'' mickens cause of death 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. November 2, 2010, Far Rockaway, New York), Ricky West (original name Richard Westfield; b. Jersey Cityd. ``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. "The Great New York State Fair mourns the loss of a great musician," the post began. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. 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. It marked the return of Khalis Bayyan to the group. By this time Khalis Bayyan and Robert "Spike" Mickens also had departed the band. Bell's death was confirmed by Tia Sinclair Bell, his wife and agent, according to Variety. They went on to release their eponymous debut album the same year. Taylor to the line-up. 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. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014. Review. Please reset your password. The album was produced by Khalis Bayyan before his 2020 death.[54]. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I still love that album to this day," one person wrote. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West in 1964 to whip up a unique blend of jazz, soul and funk. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US No. . You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. The cause of death has not been released. Death: 2 Nov 2010 (aged 58-59) Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York, USA. His cause of death has not yet been announced. Genres (none) Other tags (none) 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. No cause of death was immediately provided. Oops, we were unable to send the email. . Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Say so long to the raw and raunchy. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Robert Mickens (71021391)? Kool & the Gang was first founded in 1964 in New Jersey. Created by: Babe; . Bell started the group with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell along with neighborhood friends Dennis "D.T." Search Artists, Songs, Albums. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. [9], The band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 when seven school friends decided to perform together as an instrumental jazz and soul group named the Jazziacs. Spike is the devoted son of the late Victor . 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The New Jersey Jazz band was formed in 1964. Miles Davis would drop by because he wanted to be a boxer. "Everyone around the world, come on, there's a celebration every second of our lives. Ronald is survived by his wife, Tia Sinclair Bell. 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 . It spawned four US top 20 singles, including "Emergency", "Cherish", "Fresh", and "Misled". Other members would include lead singer James ``JT Taylor. (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. [50], In 2012, Bell accepted Van Halen singer David Lee Roth's invitation for Kool & the Gang to be the opening act during their A Different Kind of Truth Tour as Roth had noticed a significant portion of their concert audience were women. The lineup comprised of Bell and his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, as well as neighborhood friends Robert "Spike" Mickens, Dennis "D.T." "RIP Dennis Thomas, the soul and style of the seminal Kool & The Gang," another said. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West. Ron Wynn of Allmusic called the album "a completely faceless, aimless record probably the worst album of their career. His cause of death has not yet been announced. . As yet, no cause of death has been revealed. I saved myself from Royal life, Harry says & insists 'sharing's an act of service', Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, Coronation Street fans horrified as Amy Barlow is raped in disturbing scenes, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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. Kool & the Gang was formed in 1964 in Jersey City, NJ, by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald "Khalis" Bell. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 7f70114d-77bf-4a0a-b7a3-fd92909b3cd8. [11] They also played occasionally with McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Leon Thomas during their early period. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He was one of the original members of Kool & The Gang. Suicide rates increased 30% between 2000-2018, and declined in 2019 and 2020. Robert "Spike . . 5 and No. memorial page for Robert "Spike" Mickens (1951-2 Nov 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID 71021391, ; Maintained by Babe (contributor 46785600 . [37] After the tour, Taylor left Kool & the Gang to pursue a solo career. Thomas Dies At Age 70", "Kool & The Gang Co-Founder Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas Has Died At Age 70", "Dennis Thomas: Kool & The Gang founding member dies aged 70", "Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas, Co-Founder of Kool & the Gang, Dies at 70", Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It), American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kool_%26_the_Gang&oldid=1139635325, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, George "Funky" Brown drums (19641989), percussion, keyboards (19891993),(1998present), Curtis "Fitz" Williams keyboards, alto saxophone (1982present), Shawn McQuiller vocals, guitar (1991present), Timothy Horton drums, percussion (1998present), Ricky West keyboards (19641976; died 1985), Robert "Spike" Mickens trumpet (19641986; died 2010), Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow rhythm and lead guitar (19641969; died 1969), Odeen Mays keyboards, vocals (19881997), Robert "Robbie G" Goble drums (19891993), This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 03:18. Hindi, English, Punjabi. Taylor left the band for the second time in 1999. Kool & the Gang participated in the project. . The cause of death has not been released. The group came together in 1964 as the Jazziacs in Jersey City. Play Robert Spike Mickens hit new songs and download Robert Spike Mickens MP3 songs and music album online on Gaana.com. [21][23] The latter two songs sold over one million copies and were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). For other inquiries, Contact Us. subject named as. The song was declared the most-played pop song in 1984 by Broadcast Music International. memorial page for Robert "Spike" Mickens (1951-2 Nov 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID 71021391; Burial Details Unknown; . The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 1 Hit 'Celebration': 'It's Stood the Test of Time', Kool and the Gang Co-Founder Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas Dies at 70: 'The Quintessential Cool Cat', Kool & the Gang Release 25th Album Shortly After Bandmate Dennis Thomas' Death: 'It Means a Lot', Dashed 'Dreams' and BrokenHearts: Inside the Tumultuous Making of Fleetwood Mac's'Rumours', Barry Manilow's New Dr Pepper Ad Made Him Nostalgic for His Jingle-Writing Days: 'It Paid the Rent', Procol Harum Frontman Gary Brooker Dies of Cancer at 76: 'A Brightly Shining, Irreplaceable Light'. The album reached No. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robert Lee Mickens (Sumter, South Carolina), who passed away on January 19, 2023, at the age of 62, leaving to mourn family and friends. After a downturn, the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the 80s. Bell's death was confirmed by Tia Sinclair Bell, his wife and agent, according to Variety. 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. . George Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, and Ricky West. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. ROBERT MICKENS JERSEY CITY Robert "Spike" Mickens, 59, passed away on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, in a nursing home in Far Rockaway, NY after a long illness. 46 on the Billboard R&B chart. He was an original member of the musical group "Kool and the Gang". Robert passed away on November 2 2010, at age 59 in Far Rockaway. Failed to report flower. Oct 23, 2013 - Robert "Spike" Mickens (Kool & the Gang trumpeter) 1951-2010. Yeah serious sad face. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. After a brief downturn, the group enjoyed a return to stardom in the '80s. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Robert Spike Mickens I found on Findagrave.com. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Robert Spike Mickens at the Discogs Marketplace. In a 2015Rolling Stoneinterview, the Bell brothers credited Thomas playing an instrumental role in the bands hit Whos Gonna Take the Weight.. Only Ronald Kool Bell and drummer-keyboardist George Brown remain from the bands 1964 formation. A cause of death has yet to be determined. Ronald Bell and his brother Robert 'Kool' Bell formed the band in 1964 by teaming up with neighborhood friends Dennis 'D.T." Robert Mickens Jr. Robert (Coon Cane) Mickens Jr., 78, of Richmond, departed this life October 11, 2002. 1985), and James ("JT") Taylor (b. August 16, 1953, Laurens, South Carolina). We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. Robert "Spike . It is their only album with guitarist Woody Sparrow who completed a temporary eight-man formation. The album was a compilation of rappers backed by Kool and the Gang remaking some of the band's songs. [21] The album went to No. Explore. 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. He was 68. . to the label. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. . [34] At the time of the tour's start, the band ceased producing adverts with Schlitz beer because of their new image towards children and that they felt it had run its course. The group consisted of Ronald, his brother Robert "Kool" Bell, Dennis "D.T." In 1995, Taylor returned to the band for State of Affairs (1996), hailed as the group's "comeback" album. ROBERT MICKENS JERSEY CITY Robert "Spike" Mickens, 59, passed away on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, in a nursing home in Far Rockaway, NY after a long illness. Photo: Getty Images. A self-taught saxophonist and singer, he founded the group in New Jersey with Robert and five schoolfriends - Dennis Thomas, Robert Mickens, Charles Smith, George . Enjoy the music collection of Robert Spike Mickens for free on Gaana.com. [59], Alto saxophonist Dennis "D.T." Thomas played on every one of Kool & The Gang's albums up to their upcoming 25th studio album Perfect Union. This was followed by the part-studio part-live release Love & Understanding, in 1976. Taylor recalled some resistance to his arrival from some band members and the female singers they had used on The Force and Everybody's Dancin'. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles . Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? "[29], During their low period, the band gained some mainstream attention with their contribution of "Open Sesame" to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever (1977). They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US. The cause of death was not announced. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. She starred in the sitcom Family Matters. When the family moved to Jersey City, he fell in with local gangs. . To use this feature, use a newer browser. "Man Kool N The Gang just lost another founding member. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Ronald was born on November 1, 1951, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Aminah Bayyan and Robert "Bobby" Bell. Kool & The Gang were the soundtrack to a lot of good moments in life. motions to sever (Mickens, Smith, and Jones); VII. The cause of death has not been released. 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). I cant thank you enough for the hours I spent as a 7 year old playing my parents Kool & The Gangs Celebrate album over and over. Robert "Spike . 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. This is the group's 24th studio album. Failed to delete memorial. supported countless charitable causes and were the only American group to . Taylor, who noted that vocals added more warmth to the songs, especially to ballads, which the group had previously avoided as no vocalist in the group could sing them properly. Robert passed away on November 2 2010, at age 59 in Far Rockaway. 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. A self-taught musician, Ronald formed the group in 1964 with his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell," and neighborhood friends Dennis "D.T." 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. [18], In 2015, 50 years after formation, the group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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. Bell started the group with his brother Robert "Kool" Bell along with neighborhood friends Dennis "D.T." June 23, 2006. The legendary music group announced Thomas'. . [52] Within 2016 a Jersey City street was renamed the "Kool and the Gang Way". [44] The group rehearsed their stage show with a choreographer at Prince's studio at Paisley Park. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Verify and try again. 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. A cause of death has not been. [18], After the release of Something Special (1981), which continued the level of success of the previous two albums, the band recorded their fourth and final album with Deodato, As One (1982). No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. CAST OF 'FAMILY MATTERS' REMEMBERED LATE MICHELLE THOMAS. The cause of death has not been released. (Terms and conditions). [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. . Advertisement. . . An original memberofKool & The Gang, Denniswas known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and hislaid-backdemeanor, the group said in a statement. During the band's five-decade long career, they sold over 70 million albums worldwide and earned 12 top ten singles in the United States and seven in the UK. [10] Among them were Robert "Kool" Bell on bass, his brother Ronald Bell on keyboards,[11] Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas on saxophone, Ricky West on keyboards, George Brown on drums, and Charles Smith guitar. Trombonist Clifford Alanza Adams Jr. died in January 2015 at the age of 62 after a year-long battle with cancer. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Rickey West join. Edit your search or learn more. A self-taught saxophonist and singer, he founded the group in New Jersey with Robert and five schoolfriends - Dennis Thomas, Robert Mickens, Charles Smith, George . Throughout the seventies, this blend produced a string of hits including "Jungle Boogie," Brokaw did not know the cause of death. Other members would include lead singer . Writer Mike Duffy wrote: "They've joined the disco lemmings [] The edge has gone. [58], Saxophonist Ronald "Khalis Bayyan" Bell died suddenly in September 2020; the cause of death was not announced. [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. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Try again. Robert "Spike . 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.