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Ronald Bell: Kool & The Gang founder dies at 68

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Ronald Bell: Kool & The Gang founder dies at 68

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Ronald Bell (right) with his brother and fellow band member Robert in 2014.

Ronald Bell, one of the founders of the 1970s and 1980s pop group Kool & the Gang, has died at the age of 68.

He started the band with his brother Robert “Cool” Bell in 1964.

They became one of the most popular and influential soul and funk bands of their era with hits such as Celebration, Ladies’ Night and Get Down On It.

Their music has also been used in several films, including Saturday Night Fever, for which they won a Grammy in 1978, and Pulp Fiction.

Bell died at his home in the US Virgin Islands with his wife, his publicist said. The cause of death was not reported.

A self-taught saxophonist and singer, he founded a group in New Jersey with Robert and five high school friends Dennis Thomas, Robert Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown and Ricky West.

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The band has released 23 albums during their career.

Their careers split into two parts. In the early 70s they recorded American hits with amazing funk songs like Jungle Boogie and Hollywood Swinging. Then, with the addition of vocalist James “JT” Taylor in 1979, they developed into a popular R&B group, achieving the biggest commercial success of their careers when they reached their 20th birthday.

As music director, Bell has co-written all of their biggest hits, including the classic wedding disco Celebration.

It was his “favorite song” from the band’s extensive back catalog, he told Reuters in 2008.

“I had no idea, you know,” he said. “I didn’t know anything, thinking it was going to be a hit. I had no idea.

“But after all these years, at the end of the show, there are times when I see all these people singing a song, and after an hour and a half you ask them to jump up and down and they still jump. and down. It overwhelms me a little. “

The group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015 for their contributions to the world of entertainment, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Too bad for drums

Bell was born and raised in Ohio, and his father, a professional boxer, a close friend of jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, picked up the musical mistake.

With no money for drums, he and his brother learned to play homemade instruments on their own.

“I used to beat paint cans like a bongo, and depending on how much paint was inside, it determined the tone of the sounds we made,” he later recalled.

After the family moved to New Jersey as a teenager, Bell’s mother bought him a real set of bongos, and he began to learn to play bass, borrowing the instrument from the brother of his future bandmate Robert “Spike” Mickens.

‘Diehard Jazz Musicians’

The first incarnation of Kool & The Gang was formed in 1964, but they changed several names, including Jazziacs, The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Jazz Birds and Kool & the Flames, before settling on their final name in 1969.

Along the way, they combined their love of jazz with the harsh rhythms of street funk to create the sound that led to their success in the 1970s.

“In the 60s, we played a lot of percussion on the streets, went to the park and started playing drums and the like,” Bell told Rolling Stone

“It was difficult for you to get us to play R&B,” he added. “We were die-hard jazz musicians. We have not reached this point. “

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Getty Images

Image caption

Robert (left) and Ronald Bell in the studio in the 1970s

Like the Jazz Birds, they won the famous Apollo Theater Amateur Night and were signed to a small label De-Lite Records.

Three singles from their self-titled debut album hit the pop charts, and the instrumental track Kool & The Gang showcased their raucous horny sound.

Their major break came with the 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. Lead single Funny things became their first top 40 hit in the United States, followed by Jungle Boogie and Hollywood Swingwho both reached the top 10.

Jungle Boogie became one of their signature songs – used in Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino and used in Erotica Madonna.

It was only written after the band’s record label, in search of the top ten singles, forced Kool & The Gang to cover Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa.

“That would be a hit” Bell later recalled… “But we decided not to record Soul Makossa – we would come up with our own ‘jungle music’ so as not to be derogatory.

“We wrote a song in rehearsal, went in and recorded it that night. Jungle Boogie is just one take. “

New frontman

As the disco became popular, the group struggled to replicate their early success – even though they won a Grammy for Sesame, open up, their contribution to the millions of copies of Saturday Night Fever’s soundtrack.

That changed with the addition of Taylor, a former nightclub singer and producer Eumir Deodato, resulting in a cleaner pop sounding and crossover single Ladies’ Night.

The decision came when the band toured with the Jacksons and the promoter told them they needed a frontman. Taylor, chosen for his deep baritone “like Nat King Cole”, was the only singer they auditioned.

Unlike many 70s funk bands, Kool & The Gang thrived in the 80s, producing huge hits with sentimental ballads like Joanna and Cherishas well as party hymns Steppin ‘out and Get down on it, which is now their most popular song on Spotify.

Image copyright
PA Media

Image caption

The group won an outstanding prize at the 2003 Mobo Awards.

Perhaps their most enduring hit is “Celebration,” written after Bell took the Bible from his hotel room.

“I read a passage from the Scriptures about where God called the angels and announced that he was going to create this creature”, he told the songwriters universe

“He got the angels together and they said, ‘We don’t know anything,’ but we’re just celebrating you, God, we’re celebrating and praising you.”

“And I thought I would write a song about it, [with the line] ‘Everybody in the whole world … Come on!

“This is a plan … it was actually written for humanity.”

The band found a new generation of fans in the 80s and 90s as their music included a variety of pop and hip hop songs.

Jungle Boogiehorny riff appears at Luniz I got 5 on it; Summer madness formed the basis Summer DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince; and syncopated rhythms Jungle Jazz appear on dozens of tracks from MARRS Make it louder to Jade Don’t go away

When Public Enemy sampled three separate Kool & The Gang songs for Fear of a Black Planet, Bell expressed his approval.

“After Public Enemy, I went for broke [with hip-hop]he told Rolling Stone magazine in 2015. – Music was new to me. I sat and listened to Fear of a Black Planet and was in awe. I thought it was amazing.

“You can almost hear [drummer] George [Brown] play break beat. You can hear our music in the background. You know it was complex and compact, but you can hear Kool & the Gang music in all this hip-hop. “

“Still relevant”

The rise of hip-hop and Taylor’s departure in 1989 effectively ended Kool & The Gang’s presence on the charts, but Bell continued to record and tour with the group as the band’s legacy throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

At the time of his death, he was working on the solo album Kool Baby Brotha Band, as well as on a series of animated films about the band’s childhood and career.

Last year, in an interview with Billboard, he said he was grateful for making a career in music.

“And for it to be so long” he added… “I am very grateful that I am still relevant since [we were] nineteen. “

The musician is survived by his wife Tia Sinclair Bell and 10 children; as well as his brother Robert and three other siblings. The family will hold a private memorial service and have asked fans to donate to the Boys and Girls’ Club of America, a children’s charity.

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RAMMSTEIN @ Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

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Four years have passed since Stadium tour belonging RAMMSTEIN started in Germany. Much more since the itinerary was originally announced, and given the pandemic, it has been just under 365 days since tickets for the Portugal concert went on sale. However, after such a long wait for the return of the German band to the national soil, the day finally came when the titans of industrial metal honored us with their presence again. It was the stadium debut of a band that first visited us with two performances in 1998 at Paradise Garage and Hard Club and the national audience saw it grow step by step. Despite the absence we’ve been left with for the past decade (the last show here dates back to 2013 at the then Pavilhão Atlântico), the arrival of the Germans turned Lisbon into a black sea. In fact, a simple trip to the supermarket in the morning would be enough to realize that people from all over the country (and not only) have gathered there, the Portuguese almost all with backpacks on their backs, converging to host a group that is about to celebrate three decades careers. According to some, recent accusations that Till Lindemannthe band’s lead singer, has become the subject of much conversation on social media and the media in recent months – a story unfortunately repeated in the entertainment world.

Let’s face it, it was the national date for the third route Stadium tour on the Old Continent RAMMSTEIN arrived in Portugal in disgrace rather than grace. Even so, the metro ride to Estádio da Luz was electrifying. Inside, we were greeted by a sea of ​​people all along the useful perimeter, with bars packed to capacity and a cool breeze that began to rise in the late afternoon, chasing away any shadow of a potential stadium elephant. Whether you think about it or not, or realize that the future seems increasingly uncertain for the band (or for the band with Till), the truth is that everything is set to welcome you with open arms. You can understand why if you look ahead. A gigantic stage dominates the stadium with several towers dotted across the lawn. Up there, the gray sky is preparing to receive all the explosives that will be detonated all night. Let’s face it, it’s not every day that we go to a show where we have to spend a few very long minutes to even grasp the size and scope of everything that lies ahead of us. And yes, even though the lineup had been circulating widely since the start of the tour, expectations were still high for it. performance in itself. But let’s start because this scene is really impressive; built to recreate an impressive dystopian cityscape that could very well have emerged straight from the classic silent “Megapolis”from Fritz Lang, which is easily confused with the futuristic structure of the current SLB home. Result with the French ABELAR playing piano versions of the classic headliners (on a dais at midfield left), it was just right for a band with such a penchant for imposing, dramatic gestures to shine in all their glory.

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We could try to distort the text as much as we like, and at times it may even seem pointless to write about a show of force like that RAMMSTEIN. They are a HUGE, fiery band when needed; the choreography is thought out to the smallest detail – and, in truth, they have set the standard for what a great concert can be over the past two decades. with every tour becoming even larger and more imposing than the previous one, by this time nothing will allow them to give anything but an exceptional concert. Despite the restrictions, this unmissable event of the year also proved to be no exception to this rule, and once again the idea that no one represents a live show like these people was strengthened. The main export of German metal became famous for two reasons; they cause more explosions than a fireworks factory fire and play music at such a volume that it can often be heard 17 kilometers from where they play. Well, the same thing happened here, with a powerful and loud sound (perhaps too low in the place where we were present at the concert), well supported by sound towers strategically placed so that everyone can hear everything in loud and clear sound. . With the volume pumped up, you could feel the bass rumble through the foundation of the stadium. Taken into account: nothing much has changed on the stage since we last saw them, but everything has gotten bigger, much bigger.

01. ram song | 02. Links 2-3-4 | 03. Punish me | 04. Poisonous | 05. Yearning | 06. My heart burns | 07. Puppet | 08. angst | 09. Time | 10. Germany | eleven. Radio | 12. my part |13, Do you have | 14. sonne /// Anchor 1 /// 15. Engel | 16. Foreigner | 17. You smell so good | 18. Without you ///Bis 2/// 19. Rammstein | 20. I want | 21. Goodbye

Four minutes late – 9:34 p.m. seems to have been strategically chosen to ensure that the musicians would only take the stage at night – and the stadium went dark. To the sounds “Music for the Royal Fireworks”now made an anthem RAMMSTEIN, the group’s symbol hangs on the screen of the structure’s giant central tower. The stage lights up as we see Lindemann being lowered in the elevator. The first flames appear and RAMMSTEIN start engines, as is known, with the help of “Rama Song”. Cell phones stay in the air, capturing the moment, but bodies move to the sound of always benevolent “Links 2-3-4”with priceless Christian “Doctor Flake” Lorenz to remain unstoppable on the treadmill next to the keyboard, while the audience alternately dances and shakes their heads, lulled by undeniable hooks. Journey into the past withPunish me” e”Yearning“, how in “poisonous” in the middle of the passion subsided a little. This or all approached what he saw. After that there is a feeling “My heart burns” and alivePuppet” they made everyone sing in unison again. For two hours, the sold-out crowd at the Estádio da Luz not only saw the band play some of their greatest hits. It really happened. Played almost all big games hitsA “Germany”A “Do you have”A “My Part”A “Sonne”A “I want” and even the song of the same name, but it was the show itself – performance – which turned out to be completely out of this world.

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The level of pyrotechnics is indescribable: Lindemann wears a wheel on his back, spewing fire in all directions, and the guitarists Paul Landers e Richard Kruspe armed with two huge flamethrowers attached to their guitars and firing huge flames. There are more innocent things like huge guns confetti which envelop the entire stadium with paper tapes. And everywhere there is fire, a lot of fire. At times, heat was felt on the face, anywhere from the lawn to the stands farthest from the main structure, and waves of pyrotechnics lit up not only the stage, but also the four towers that towered above the crowd and left them. dark puffs of smoke hang in the sky. There was literally a feeling that we were among the rubble of some devastated post-futuristic city. Then there were more earthy things, with a small stage arranged in the middle of the hall (slightly to the left of those who are facing the stage), where musicians joined the crowd. ABELAR interpret “Engel”, which opened the first Encore. After that, the band members returned to the main stage in inflatable rubber boats and attacked the luxurious trio, consisting of “Foreigner“,”You smell so good»e«Without you“. in a second bis planned, but still very much in demand) there was still time to listen to “Rammstein“,”I want“and, at the moment of farewell, very appropriate”Goodbye“.

The images in the gallery are from GEORGE BOOTS.

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Exposed. Images Proving Thiago Rodriguez Wasn’t Defeated, He Just Fell

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Exposed.  Images Proving Thiago Rodriguez Wasn't Defeated, He Just Fell

Brazilian actor Thiago Rodriguez, 42, was exposed by CCTV footage near the site where he was allegedly attacked and robbed. After all, he had just fallen from the structure on which he was sitting, and hit his head and face on the ground, which led to injuries.🇧🇷 He ended up lying on the floor for about 30 minutes until he was rescued by two people passing by who helped him. The case angered the Brazilians.

Thiago Rodriguez Injured” data-title=”Thiago Rodriguez Injured – Exposed. Images Proving Thiago Rodriguez Wasn’t Beaten, He Just Fell – MAGG”>

It was the Brazilian Civil Police itself that released the CCTV images showing that the thesis defended by the Brazilian actor, who is currently starring in the TVI soap opera Quero É Viver, is not true. Police Chief Bianca Lima confirmed to Record TV’s Domingo Espetacular that the fall was the cause of the actor’s injuries, not the robbers’ aggression.

The images were captured by cameras at a commercial establishment located in Plaza Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro, 200 meters from the Jockey Club where Thiago went to party and was expelled from. According to the records, it was 5:40 in the morning when the actor sat on a metal structure, which is located in the square, lost his balance and fell face down on the ground. Only at about 6:10 am he was rescued by two people passing by. However, it is not clear if these people stole the actor’s mobile phone, which has since disappeared, or if Thiago simply lost it in the fall.

The fall of Thiago Rodriguez” data-title=”The fall of Thiago Rodriguez is a revelation. Images Proving Thiago Rodriguez Wasn’t Beaten, He Just Fell – MAGG”> The fall of Thiago Rodriguez

As a result of the fall, the actor received cuts on his head and was even forced to put a few stitches on his head. After that, Thiago went to file a complaint with the police, claiming that he was attacked and robbed by criminals. But that theory didn’t make much sense as the actor still had the wallet and backpack he had that night. “A backpack with things, a wallet and a rope were with him. And we wondered if anyone who goes for such violence would take only a mobile phone,” the police chief explained.

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After all, Thiago Rodriguez was not beaten. The actor will be left alone – News

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After all, Thiago Rodriguez was not beaten.  The actor will be left alone - News

Brazilian authorities have denied the story of an alleged attack that allegedly targeted Thiago Rodriguez. The police, agreeing with the video, which is already circulating on social networks, indicate that the actor did fall alone.

Security cameras in buildings near where Thiago Rodriguez was found show him sitting on an iron and falling forward moments later.

The G1 website guarantees that the authorities will suspend the investigation into a possible robbery, given that “the investigation has proven the absence of criminally significant facts.”

However, it is still necessary to understand where the actor’s mobile phone is located. The police, according to the same media, are trying to understand if it was stolen when Thiago was lying on the ground unconscious.

Recall that the 42-year-old artist said that he was robbed at the exit of a bar in Rio de Janeiro.

Thiago Rodriguez is part of the cast of the soap opera Quero É Viver currently airing on TVI.

Watch the video below, published by the Brazilian press, in which you can see the fall of the actor.

Read also: First images of Thiago Rodriguez after brutal attack

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