Musician & Songwriter. A drummer, he is known for his work as a member of the R&B music ensemble "Kool & The Gang." Influenced by the likes of Art Blakey and Elvin Jones, Brown was initially drawn to jazz and after forming a relationship with future Kool & The Gang band members, brothers Robert and Ronald Bell, they performed under the name The Jazziacs and acquired experience on the New York night club scene during the mid 1960s. After their name change to Kool & The Gang, they signed a contract with the De-Lite record label and adapted a R&B style which led to commercial success with the hits "Jungle Boogie" (1973, gold single, number 4 on the pop charts), "Hollywood Swinging" (1974, gold record, number 6 placing on the pop charts), "Ladies Night" (1979, gold record number 8 on the pop charts), "Too Hot" (1980, gold record, number five placing on the pop charts), "Celebration" (1980, platinum status, number one on the pop charts), "Get Down On It" (1982, gold record, number 10 placing on the pop charts), "Joanna" (1983, gold record, number 2 placing on the pop charts), "Fresh" (1985, number 5 on the pop charts), and "Cherish" (1985, gold record, number 2 placing on the pop charts). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. He died from cancer. In 2024, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kool & the Gang.
Musician & Songwriter. A drummer, he is known for his work as a member of the R&B music ensemble "Kool & The Gang." Influenced by the likes of Art Blakey and Elvin Jones, Brown was initially drawn to jazz and after forming a relationship with future Kool & The Gang band members, brothers Robert and Ronald Bell, they performed under the name The Jazziacs and acquired experience on the New York night club scene during the mid 1960s. After their name change to Kool & The Gang, they signed a contract with the De-Lite record label and adapted a R&B style which led to commercial success with the hits "Jungle Boogie" (1973, gold single, number 4 on the pop charts), "Hollywood Swinging" (1974, gold record, number 6 placing on the pop charts), "Ladies Night" (1979, gold record number 8 on the pop charts), "Too Hot" (1980, gold record, number five placing on the pop charts), "Celebration" (1980, platinum status, number one on the pop charts), "Get Down On It" (1982, gold record, number 10 placing on the pop charts), "Joanna" (1983, gold record, number 2 placing on the pop charts), "Fresh" (1985, number 5 on the pop charts), and "Cherish" (1985, gold record, number 2 placing on the pop charts). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. He died from cancer. In 2024, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kool & the Gang.
Bio by: C.S.
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