Robert Bell

American musician, singer and songwriter, nicknamed "Kool," noted as the founding member of Kool & the Gang, first assembled in 1964. Bob was the son of a musician who had played jazz with Thelonious Monk and he himself played from the time he was in high school with a jazz combo, The Jazziacs. Not making any money, he moved toward R&B and a local promoter booked him into regular gigs backing soul acts under the name Soul Music Review. Bell continued to play jazz in his spare time in churches and coffee bars, and jamming whenever he could with the jazz big names.

By 1968 he and his group were an R&B attraction. They had several name changes before settling on Kool & the Gang. They made a recording deal in 1969 and wrote their own material for a funk instrumental. Their popularity grew for albums that were not only R&B but for jazz and funk. They made their first European tour in 1975 and in February 1981, put out their biggest hit single, "Celebration."