George “Funky” Brown, the legendary drummer and co-founder of the iconic funk band Kool & The Gang, has passed away at the age of 74. Sources with direct knowledge have revealed that the musician died from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, ending his remarkable 59-year career as a songwriter and drummer for the legendary funk band. He had been battling stage-4 cancer.
A representative for the group confirmed the news, stating that George Brown died on November 16, 2023, after his battle with cancer. Brown was known for co-writing many of the band’s iconic songs, including “Ladies Night,” “Too Hot,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Celebration,” and “Cherish.” When asked to describe his music, Brown always replied, ‘The sound of happiness.’
Brown had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had actually recovered for a while before hitting the road again to tour and perform. However, he suffered another setback this year when the cancer returned. George chronicled his health struggles last month with KCAL News.
George Brown and the rest of the group came together in 1964 to create the supregroup in Jersey City, New Jersey. The other founding members included Robert Bell (bass), Ronald Bell (keyboards), Dennis Thomas (saxophone), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Ricky West (keyboards), and Charles Smith (guitarist).
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The band landed their first recording deal with De-Lite Records, releasing their debut album titled, “Kool & The Gang,” in 1969. However, they didn’t reach stardom until 1973 when they released their fourth record called “Wild And Peaceful,” featuring some of their biggest songs like “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging.”
Kool & The Gang continued to experience success with a string of super successful records, including “Ladies Night” (1979), “Celebrate!” (1980), and “Emergency” (1984), which collectively sold a whopping 2 million albums in the U.S. alone. All three records produced a slew of very popular tunes, including “Celebration,” which rocketed to number one on the charts.
Throughout their career, Kool & The Gang has been widely recognized in the music industry, winning 2 Grammy Awards, 7 American Music Awards, a Music Business Association Chairman’s Award, and a Soul Train Legend Award. They were also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Robert “Kool” Bell is now the only surviving member of the band left. A spokesperson for the band has stated that donations can be made in George Brown’s honor to the Lung Cancer Society of America. Brown is survived by his wife, Hanh Brown, and his 5 children.
George Brown’s contribution to Kool & The Gang has left an indelible mark on the music industry, and his music will continue to bring joy and happiness to many. Rest in peace, George.
