August 08, (THEWILL) – One of the founders of Kool & the Gang, the 1970s/80s soul-funk band, Dennis Thomas, is dead.
The band, announcing his death Saturday, stated that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” in New Jersey.
THEWILL writes that Thomas was one of the original founders of the group, which began in 1964 with Robert ‘Kool’ Bell, his brother, Ronald, and four other schoolfriends: Robert Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky Westfield.
Thomas was born in 1951 in Florida and was known for his prologue on the band’s 1971 hit ‘Who’s Gonna Take the Weight’.
Before his death, Thomas was the Kool & the Gang’s sax player, flutist, percussionist, and MC at shows.
His band became one of the era’s most influential with hits such as ‘Celebration’ and ‘Get Down On It’.
Their music was featured in several films including ‘Saturday Night Fever’ for which they received a Grammy in 1978.
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