Kool & the Gang

One of their more famous songs from this period was "Cherish," part of their album Emergency. Recently he has announced a new CD and taken part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Their fame quickly diminished in the later part of the decade, though they continued releasing albums throughout the 80s and 1990s. He was still recording and appearing live in the early 2000s. More hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun" and "Get Down on It". Since then, Lopez has done much charity work and has received many honours, such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. Their only #1 hit was 1980's "Celebration", off Celebrate!, produced by Eumir Deodato. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period, remaining firmly within his Latin music genre; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in the United Kingdom in 1978 proved an embarrassing flop.

The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended (after new lead singer James "JT" Taylor joined the group) with 1979's Ladies Night, the title track from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of ladies' nights in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. He co-starred the war movie The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Antonio (1973) . Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke the into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". His first film appearance was in Marriage On The Rocks (1965) where he appeared with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. During the 1960s and 1970s Lopez moved into acting as well as recording and playing, though his film career was not nearly as successful as his music. The group first hit the pop charts with their debut, self-titled album. He also recorded covers of other popular songs of the day, including Lemon Tree (1965), I'm Coming Home Cindy (1966) and Sally Was a Good Old Girl (1968).

The Bell Brothers' father was an acquaintance of Thelonious Monk and the brothers were friends with Leon Thomas. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba on this album. November 1, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio); George Brown on drums; Robert Mickens on trumpet; Dennis Thomas on saxophone; and Rick Westfield on keyboards. The album included Lopez's most famous song, If I Had A Hammer, which reached number one in 25 countries and was a radio favourite for many years. October 8, 1950, Youngstown, Ohio) and Ronald Bell on saxophone (b. His debut album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ's, was released in 1963. The group's main members over the years included brothers Robert Bell (known as "Kool") on bass (b. Costa was greatly taken with Lopez's Latinized versions of contemporary hits and signed him up to Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records.

They started out as practitioners of R&B and funk, eventually went through a phase where they were a smooth disco ensemble, and wound up the successful period of their career recording tunes that were a mixture of pop and R&B. Born Trinidad Lopez III in Dallas, Texas, he made his name on the club circuit of the American Southwest before being "discovered" in 1962 by the record producer Don Costa while playing at the PJ Club in Hollywood. They went through several musical phases in their career. Trini Lopez (May 15, 1937- ) is a Latin American singer/guitarist. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964. Official site (http://www.trinilopez.com/) (A detailed biography is available at this site.). Kool & the Gang was a massively successful rhythm and blues and disco group.

"Stone Love" [1987, #10]. "Victory" [1986, #10]. "Emergency" [1985, #28]. "Cherish" [1985, #2].

"Fresh" [1985, #4]. "Misled" [1985, #10]. "Tonight" [1984, #13]. "Joanna" [1983, #2 (#1 R&B)].

"Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" [1982, #30]. "Big Fun" [1982, #21]. "Get Down on It" [1982, #10]. "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" [1981, #17 (#1 R&B)].

Jones" [1981, #39]. "Jones vs. "Celebration" [1980 #1, (#1 R&B)]. "Too Hot" [1980, #5].

"Ladies' Night" [1979, #8 (#1 R&B)]. "Spirit of the Boogie"/"Summer Madness" [1975, #35 (#1 R&B)]. "Higher Plane" [1974, #37 (#1 R&B)]. "Hollywood Swinging" [1974, #6].

"Jungle Boogie" [1974, #4]. "Funky Stuff" [1973, #29]. Victory (1986, Mercury, #25). Emergency (1985, De-Lite, #13).

In the Heart (1984, De-Lite, #29). As One (1982, De-Lite, #29). Something Special (1981, De-Lite, #12). Celebrate! (1980, De-Lite, #10).

Ladies' Night (1979, De-Lite, #13). Wild and Peaceful (1974, De-Lite, #33).