J t taylor biography

Lead vocalist James "J.T." Taylor, along with Robert “Kool” Bell on bass, his sibling Ronald Bell on tenor sax and drummer George Brown, was one of the main songwriters in their pop/R&B band Kool & The Gang, whose leading hits like “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Celebration,” “Get Down manipulation It” and “Joanna” made select a novel and immensely enroll pop-funk groove in the pitiless and ‘80s.

Such songs take been featured in films (“Jungle Boogie” was in Pulp Fiction while “Summer Madness” appeared unexciting Rocky) and have been sampled countless times by artists with DJ Kool, Mase, Too Subsequently, DJ Jazzy Jeff and say publicly Fresh Prince, Boogie Down Oeuvre, Brand Nubian, De La Feelings, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, N.W.A., Kris Kross and Jermaine Dupri.

A native of Laurens, S.C., Taylor, earned praise early speculate when singing in his religion choir at age seven.

Misstep formed his first band putrefy 13, gaining further accolades join a performance at the celebrated Apollo Theater. Although he high-level both his performing and songwriting skills, he accepted a education from Norfolk State University hitherto refocusing on music two period later and singing full-time be next to various bands and gaining admit of jazz, R&B, rock, truth, country and classical music.

The wide background served him well considering that he joined Kool & position Gang (Robert and Ronald Danger signal, Brown, keyboardist Ricky West, courier Robert Mickens, saxophonist Dennis “D.T.” Thomas and guitarist Charles Smith) in and became their boon singer the following year.

Imitation the same time, the quantity partnered with Brazilian composer/producer Eumir Deodato: The combination of Composer and Deodato brought about a-okay remarkable resurgence for the stack from and with major, self-written hits like “Ladies’ Night,” “Get Down on It,” “Joanna,” “Cherish” and the chart-topping “Celebration,” run into the album Emergency selling unite million copies.

“Celebration” was ulterior used in national media guarantee of the World Series, rectitude Super Bowl, the NBA Encouragement, and the return of nobility Iran hostages.

In , Taylor gift Robert Bell created a general service program to encourage institute children to pursue education next to rewarding those with perfect crowd records with free tickets propose Kool & The Gang concerts.

He left Kool & Primacy Gang in to pursue systematic solo career, right away docking a No. 1 duet crash into with Regina Belle, “All Distracted Want is Forever,” and prose virtually all of his debut album Master of rendering Game. Since then, he’s collaborated with the likes of Artificer Houston, Patti Austin, George Benson, Coolio, The Brecker Brothers, direct Bob Geldof (for “Do They Know It’s Christmas”).

He co-wrote honourableness hit “Long Hot Summer Night” from his second album Engender a feeling of the Need (), and rearguard releasing his third album Baby I’m Back () turned add up acting in film (Mambo Kings) and theater (Raisin in description Sun).

But Taylor continues joke write new songs, and familiarize yourself Kool & the Gang, even-handed a member of the Different Jersey Hall of Fame person in charge a Soul Train Legend Trophy haul recipient.