He wasn't "responsible"....the whole band was. He became their lead singer bcuz they never really had one. Their sound before hiring him for crossover songs, was horn driven.
I agree with you, but since 1979 until now, James Taylor is the reason..because when we listen all songs since 1979 on the radio, tv, usb,cd's, in discoteque..everywhere until now, whe are listen the voice of James Taylor..He is something special for Kool and the Gang and for World music. Koola and the Gang without his voice is not the same..i am so sorry, but this is a truth..
No sir... The real vocals were not J.T. - .... J.T. came with the buffoonery sound - The first vocals' had more "SOUL". J.T. brought another sound, it was meant for other race to enjoy, J.T. poppish vocals didn't have no soul. - And, he couldn't dance.. J.T., He knew it💨💨
@@mauriceleblanc7450 Who was the real vocalist that brought the SOUL as u say bcuz JT is all I know as well? What happened with that guy & why did K&TG change their sound?
They kind of ignore him,yet everybody buy they CDs to just hear his roaming voice which marked the history of Kool and Jt gang. Honestly I can't go to their concert any longer . Can't enjoy without this dude.
Yeah, K&TG started in the early 1970's. You should check out "Funky Stuff", "Chocolate Butter Milk", "Let The Music Take Your Mind", "Soul Vibration", "Love The Life You Live". "Music Is The Message" and don't leave out "Who's Gonna' Take The Weight?". Classics
He wasn't Kool and The Gang. He was their lead vocalist starting in 1979 during their pop reign. They were well into 15 years as a group and 10 years as recording artists before JT Taylor They survived as jazz/funk unit without a dedicated lead vocalist before Mr Taylor, ("Funky Stuff", "Jungle Boogie", "Hollywood Swingin", "Rhyme Tyme People", "Summer Madness", "Spirit of the Boogie", "Open Sesame" to name few. Now---we can say their most exposure and pop success came with JT Taylor. Their were/are people who didn't know of their existence before Taylor. The masses like simple to the point music. More sophisticated earthy music goes over people's heads
@@leonguisburg413 I had absolutely no idea he didn't make the group who they were. I'm like the dude who commented above bc all I knew was JT & I thought HE WAS K&TG as well. Two questions 1. If JT wasn't K&TG then who was (the lead singer b4 him) and 2. What's their best jazz album or songs bc I ❤ me some jazz?
@juliemcdaniel499 They didn't have a dedicated "lead" singer. They were a funk outfit with jazz leanings. The focus was on the musicians/music as opposed to having a "lead" vocalist. Former keyboardist Rick Westfield sang lead on 1973's "Hollywood Swingin"---but mainly vocals were handled as a group chorus As the 1970s degenerated into disco by mid-decade---funk and musicmanship fell out of favor and in order to survive---groups either went disco and/or pop or whatever the trend was. Enter James "JT" Taylor and the 1980s. Yes, music is a business, and K&TG had way more success as a pop act as opposed to "Jungle Boogie," Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swingin", "Summer Madness" years That was and has been the debate over the1969-1979 K&TG vs the1980 foward K&TG
Sorry to the narrator , you missed Robert Mickens on Trumpet, RickyWest on Keyboards, also there was Earl Toon on Keyboards, There was a Trombone Clifford Adam's, there was Otha Nash who played Trombone , Amir Bayyan on Keyboards there was Larry Gittens on trumpet.
What? JT was in the thumbnail, with a picture of *someone* who was not him. There were more members left out of this sparse video, but to ignore the lead singer of most of their biggest hits?? Criminal!
Yeah, I noticed that to. Thumbnail, but I skimmed thru the vid and they didn't even include him. Why would the have him in the Thumbnail then. Makes no sense
Dennis Thomas was a Valedictorian I believe, in Junior High School. I been a fan since 1967. Kool and, the Gang made the instrumental “Kool In The Gang by, Kool and, the Gang”.
If you going to put a documentary together about the Kool & the gang please do it right you forgot some original because because out of the original members of Kool & the gang there are only two members living which is Ronald cool Bell and George Brown so next time do your research before you put a documentary together about the band
Des légendes vivante malgré ceux qui nous ont quitté kool and the gang restera à jamais un groupe funky soul qui nous a donné beaucoup émotion merci mon enfance adolescence et mon present j'écoute encore
You cannot blatantly overlook the voice of "Kool and The Gang", the amazing J. T. Taylor. You put his photo up with the "Then and Now" caption and then chose not to mention him? Totally misleading and unacceptable!!
Kool & the gang is one of my favorite r&b groups. I grow up listening to their music and buying there tapes and cd's. Even today I still listen and play their amazing music
WHEN I WAS YOUNG THE USED TO CALL ME JAMES TAYLOR BECAUSE MY LOOK ALIKE WITH HIM. HE WAS MY STAR. WHY DID YOU FORGET TO TELL ABOUT HIM? KOOL AND THE GANG MEANS JT.
I'm still looking for Mr Robert "JT" Taylor. Is this a April fools joke...or what? Where's the most popular guy who was the very face of the group for most of their later biggest hits? How could he be overlooked or omitted if this report is to be taken seriously? good grief, man!
Several of the before and after faces are incorrect. Another note---sadly Mr George Brown passed away this past winter, leaving Robert "Kool" Bell as the only surviving ORIGINAL member. Oringinal members: 1.Robert "Kool" Bell: bass 2.Ronald Khaalis Bell: tenor sax, keyboards, guitar, percussion 3.Claydes Charles Smith: guitar 4.Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow: guitar 5.Robert "Spike" Mickens: trumpet , flugelhorn 6.Dennis "DT" Thomas: alto sax, flute 7.Rick Westfield: keyboards 8.George "Funky" Brown
I truly love these guys! I literally grew up listening to their music 🎶 on the radio almost every day! RIP Khalis Bayan (Ronald Bell) 😢, Dennis Thomas 😢, Charles Smith 😢 and others I may not know 😢. I love Kool and the Gang music! But I'm surprised this video does not include James JT Taylor
@Christophersanders8939 Louis Taylor was apart of K&TG. Yes the person who did this video had all their facts mixed up and completely wrong. I believe Louis was the Saxophone player of the group.
Is it me but did they forget about JT. I get he wasn't an original founder of the group but he was with them from 1979 to 1989 on classics like Ladies night celebration too hot get down on it and many more.
I know Bobby"kool bell from jersey city New Jersey, he & his brother Ronnie put that band Kool & the gang together both of them were great, I wanna shout out to Bobby bell love you brother.
This is not the "Then" Kool and the Gang. No mention of originals Ricky Westfield (Hollywood Swinging); nor Robert "Spike" Mickens. J.T. came along later. Let's telling it right!
Menurut saya kool the gang lebih perfect ada nya seorang vokalis JT Taylor karna dia yg mempunyai suara emas sehingga jadi meledak ketika lagu Cherish kluar🎉, hero JT Taylor
You only see J.T.'s face in the first 10 seconds of this video. Then it's like he magically disappeared. Never to be seen again or even mentioned at all. The title should have been Kool and The Gang Band -The early years and remove James "J.T." Taylor.'s picture all together. Then it would have made more sense to ignore him entirely as they did. incomprehensible.
Dude you need to remove this video and redo it🤨……No JT Taylor …dude he’s the lead singer (the voice of the band) Imagine making a video like this talking about Journey but totally omitting Steve Perry or the Beatles and making no mention of Paul McCartney 🤨
So where is JAMES JT TAYLOR??😮😮😮... He is THE VOICE of the band . I thought he was KOOL for years and years due to his very smooth and sexy voice. HE brought the band the love and fame it got. Come on now.......
White man who's talking got Louis Taylor confused with James Taylor at 1:51 LOL. How could you forget James Taylor when James was the lead singer of Kool And The Gang in 1980's? LOL.
OMG you put members that was deceased with the newer members of the band and didn't even mention the other band members. You mixed things up 🤦🏽♀️ BIG DO-OVER!!!
No JT Taylor? Whoever did this totally failed.
I think he was under the name Louis Taylor
This man is not JT Taylor!Greetings from Brazil!
It has the true facts about him that is his real birthday
Has true facts he decided to leave the group
You see they put JT on his Title then and Now
James Taylor is the person responsible for the level of success kool and the gang had in the eighties .
He wasn't "responsible"....the whole band was. He became their lead singer bcuz they never really had one. Their sound before hiring him for crossover songs, was horn driven.
I agree with you, but since 1979 until now, James Taylor is the reason..because when we listen all songs since 1979 on the radio, tv, usb,cd's, in discoteque..everywhere until now, whe are listen the voice of James Taylor..He is something special for Kool and the Gang and for World music. Koola and the Gang without his voice is not the same..i am so sorry, but this is a truth..
So much jealously for JT
@@dme1016 lets be clear for folks like me who lived outside of the US , we came to like this band because of the JT.. " she is fresh , fresh ....
@@mariomarjan 100%. He made them famous .. period!
The best voice from kool and the gang is JAMES TAYLOR....WHERE IS HIM?????..HE WAS THE BEST OF THE BAND.
No sir...
The real vocals
were not J.T. -
.... J.T. came with the buffoonery sound -
The first vocals'
had more "SOUL".
J.T. brought another sound, it was meant
for other race
to enjoy,
J.T. poppish vocals
didn't have no soul.
- And, he couldn't dance..
J.T., He knew it💨💨
@@mauriceleblanc7450 you dam right brother
@@mikegiles9702 kool & the Gang had their biggest hits with JT Taylor so you're on your own
@@tonyebiere551 I don't care they were phony as hell
@@mauriceleblanc7450 Who was the real vocalist that brought the SOUL as u say bcuz JT is all I know as well? What happened with that guy & why did K&TG change their sound?
No JT: MAN YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING
J.T. Taylor the Best !!!
JT will always be the best with his voice
How did you leave out JT Taylor? How did that happen? That's weird. He's singing on "ALL" of their giant hits!
Correct bro .I don't understand either .
Wasn't JT they main lead singers since the mid 70's?
They kind of ignore him,yet everybody buy they CDs to just hear his roaming voice which marked the history of Kool and Jt gang. Honestly I can't go to their concert any longer . Can't enjoy without this dude.
@@kevincunningham734 late 70s and 80s. There number 1 hit he was the vocalist, smh
that's what i was wondering
People who didn't grow up with the music never get stuff right.
To me JT was Kool and the Gang. He's the only voice I know
Check out the music Kool and the Gang made before 1980.
Yeah, K&TG started in the early 1970's. You should check out "Funky Stuff", "Chocolate Butter Milk", "Let The Music Take Your Mind", "Soul Vibration", "Love The Life You Live". "Music Is The Message" and don't leave out "Who's Gonna' Take The Weight?". Classics
He wasn't Kool and The Gang. He was their lead vocalist starting in 1979 during their pop reign. They were well into 15 years as a group and 10 years as recording artists before JT Taylor
They survived as jazz/funk unit without a dedicated lead vocalist before Mr Taylor, ("Funky Stuff", "Jungle Boogie", "Hollywood Swingin", "Rhyme Tyme People", "Summer Madness", "Spirit of the Boogie", "Open Sesame" to name few. Now---we can say their most exposure and pop success came with JT Taylor. Their were/are people who didn't know of their existence before Taylor. The masses like simple to the point music. More sophisticated earthy music goes over people's heads
@@leonguisburg413 I had absolutely no idea he didn't make the group who they were. I'm like the dude who commented above bc all I knew was JT & I thought HE WAS K&TG as well. Two questions 1. If JT wasn't K&TG then who was (the lead singer b4 him) and 2. What's their best jazz album or songs bc I ❤ me some jazz?
@juliemcdaniel499 They didn't have a dedicated "lead" singer. They were a funk outfit with jazz leanings. The focus was on the musicians/music as opposed to having a "lead" vocalist. Former keyboardist Rick Westfield sang lead on 1973's "Hollywood Swingin"---but mainly vocals were handled as a group chorus
As the 1970s degenerated into disco by mid-decade---funk and musicmanship fell out of favor and in order to survive---groups either went disco and/or pop or whatever the trend was. Enter James "JT" Taylor and the 1980s. Yes, music is a business, and K&TG had way more success as a pop act as opposed to "Jungle Boogie," Funky Stuff", "Hollywood Swingin", "Summer Madness" years
That was and has been the debate over the1969-1979 K&TG vs the1980 foward K&TG
Sorry to the narrator , you missed Robert Mickens on Trumpet, RickyWest on Keyboards, also there was Earl Toon on Keyboards, There was a Trombone Clifford Adam's, there was Otha Nash who played Trombone , Amir Bayyan on Keyboards there was Larry Gittens on trumpet.
They showed Clifford, but had Shawny McQuiller as Clifford it was a total debacle.
COME ON NOW, REALLY NO JT?
WE RESPECT THE WHOLE GROUP. ALL
THAT HAVE COME AND GONE. THANKS
FOR MUSIC 🎵🎵🎵
STILL PLAYING!!!
No JT(lead vocals on the major hits, no Spike(original trumpet), no Rick(original keyboardist). These were outstanding members of the group!!!
And Clifford was left out .
☘️⚘️🕊KOOL & THE GANG "RIP DENNIS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS PASSED ON.
What? JT was in the thumbnail, with a picture of *someone* who was not him. There were more members left out of this sparse video, but to ignore the lead singer of most of their biggest hits?? Criminal!
Yeah, I noticed that to. Thumbnail, but I skimmed thru the vid and they didn't even include him. Why would the have him in the Thumbnail then. Makes no sense
Dennis Thomas was a Valedictorian I believe, in Junior High School.
I been a fan since 1967.
Kool and, the Gang made the instrumental “Kool In The Gang by, Kool and, the Gang”.
Cherish,Too Hot,joanna,& get down on it r my favorite Katg songs
The only song I like from Kool and the Gang is "Cherish"
yes yess and still a lot more.. No Show, Celebration, Take my heart, list goes on JT's voice is golden on all those Hits...
Kool and the Gang won't exist without JTs voice.
I HAD THE CHANCE 2 SEE KOOL @GANG BACK IN 1978)A VERY TIGHT GROUP)2023)
James JT Taylor IS Kool and the Gang !!!!!!
Kool and the Gang started in the 1960's and they are still going. where is JT right now? What has he done since he left the band?
I had to look at this twice how they leave out the lead singer?
After 30+ yrs i tried the karaoke and it still blows you away , the KooL in the music simply means " The Love Was Still Brand New "
How on planet earth could you have missed JT, the most prominent figure in the band?????? Was this meant to be a joke??
This posting was garbage, but this is what you get from people or sites that are truly uninformed. Most of these sites need to be taken down.
If you’re not going to include a prominent member of the group why post his picture? Totally disrespectful to the fans and JT.
If you going to put a documentary together about the Kool & the gang please do it right you forgot some original because because out of the original members of Kool & the gang there are only two members living which is Ronald cool Bell and George Brown so next time do your research before you put a documentary together about the band
Agreed. No JT; someone needs to go to AA.
Love Kool gang music group
Des légendes vivante malgré ceux qui nous ont quitté kool and the gang restera à jamais un groupe funky soul qui nous a donné beaucoup émotion merci mon enfance adolescence et mon present j'écoute encore
I agree totally. Where’s JT! ❤
You cannot blatantly overlook the voice of "Kool and The Gang", the amazing J. T. Taylor. You put his photo up with the "Then and Now" caption and then chose not to mention him? Totally misleading and unacceptable!!
This Celebrity Snap really FFFFF up!
We need to cheer them up .... I feel the sadness....
Kool & the gang is one of my favorite r&b groups. I grow up listening to their music and buying there tapes and cd's. Even today I still listen and play their amazing music
What about JT?
WHEN I WAS YOUNG THE USED TO CALL ME JAMES TAYLOR BECAUSE MY LOOK ALIKE WITH HIM. HE WAS MY STAR. WHY DID YOU FORGET TO TELL ABOUT HIM? KOOL AND THE GANG MEANS JT.
NO LIKES FOR THIS GUYS ,IF YOU DID GET THEM BACK , NEVER LEAVE BEHIN MY MAN TAYLOR .. HE IS THE REASON I LOVED THIS BAND.
I'm still looking for Mr Robert "JT" Taylor.
Is this a April fools joke...or what?
Where's the most popular guy who was the very face of the group for most of their later biggest hits? How could he be overlooked or omitted if this report is to be taken seriously?
good grief, man!
You forgot Ricky West and Robert Mike Spikens who original members from 1964
Right! and J.T. WTF! half ass job here.Disrespect.
Several of the before and after faces are incorrect. Another note---sadly Mr George Brown passed away this past winter,
leaving Robert "Kool" Bell as the only surviving ORIGINAL member.
Oringinal members:
1.Robert "Kool" Bell: bass
2.Ronald Khaalis Bell: tenor sax, keyboards, guitar, percussion
3.Claydes Charles Smith: guitar
4.Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow: guitar
5.Robert "Spike" Mickens: trumpet , flugelhorn
6.Dennis "DT" Thomas: alto sax, flute
7.Rick Westfield: keyboards
8.George "Funky" Brown
I truly love these guys! I literally grew up listening to their music 🎶 on the radio almost every day! RIP Khalis Bayan (Ronald Bell) 😢, Dennis Thomas 😢, Charles Smith 😢 and others I may not know 😢. I love Kool and the Gang music! But I'm surprised this video does not include James JT Taylor
J T? 🤔 I opened this video because of the thumbnail
That is so crazy that you didn’t include James JT Taylor. Yet you used one of his earlier photos in your thumbnail.
Come on bro! JT Taylor is Kool and the gang!!!!
Awesome, awesome group
Where the hell is James "J.T." Taylor?
You showed the gang without Kool.😂
Faltou falar no maior vocalista da banda de todos os tempos, JT TAYLOR.
Who is Louis Taylor? Get your facts straight before presenting this. JT Taylor was the lead singer not Louis.🤦♂️
@Christophersanders8939 Louis Taylor was apart of K&TG. Yes the person who did this video had all their facts mixed up and completely wrong. I believe Louis was the Saxophone player of the group.
Is it me but did they forget about JT. I get he wasn't an original founder of the group but he was with them from 1979 to 1989 on classics like Ladies night celebration too hot get down on it and many more.
And yet, he is on the cover (thumbnail) for the video. I'm confused!
He took them to another level
He forgot about six more guys who have passed.
Rock&Roll Hall Of Fame Hello ARE YOU LISTENING ??? AREVYOU AWAKE . DO YOU NEED A CUP OF COFFEE??????
@@garymayfield5995 Absolutely. Why did he leave?????
tres bon musiciens merci pour les annees 80
What about JT Taylor? He indeed left the band around 1988, but he is an iconic character who was part of its successful work in the 80s.
Really? JT led this band to greatness. Whomever did this piece, Needs to go back and finish their research!
Wheres JT , not complete without him
What happened to JT Taylor?
Ahhh I didn't see the lead singer
Whom ever did the " then & now" pic should have done their research.
SIN JT TAYLOR LA BANDA OH GRUPO NO HUBIERA SIDO TAN FAMOSOS EL ERA LA VOZ LA MELODIA EL ERA THE SHOW MAN ❤❤
I know Bobby"kool bell from jersey city New Jersey, he & his brother Ronnie put that band Kool & the gang together both of them were great, I wanna shout out to Bobby bell love you brother.
This is not the "Then" Kool and the Gang. No mention of originals Ricky Westfield (Hollywood Swinging); nor Robert "Spike" Mickens. J.T. came along later. Let's telling it right!
Pour moi James "JT" Taylor restera LA SEULE ET UNIQUE VOIX des Kool and the gang.
Menurut saya kool the gang lebih perfect ada nya seorang vokalis JT Taylor karna dia yg mempunyai suara emas sehingga jadi meledak ketika lagu Cherish kluar🎉, hero JT Taylor
Várias canções inesquecíveis essa banda gravou...mas "Gods Country" é insuperável!
And, the picture to the right is not JT.
So probably the most recognized member JT was left out. This channel now goes on the "Not Interested" block.
You only see J.T.'s face in the first 10 seconds of this video. Then it's like he magically disappeared. Never to be seen again or even mentioned at all. The title should have been Kool and The Gang Band -The early years and remove James "J.T." Taylor.'s picture all together. Then it would have made more sense to ignore him entirely as they did. incomprehensible.
Yes, please give us information on the keyboard player, Ricky West, and it should’ve mentioned Spike Makins
Very interesting
What! No Ricky West of James "JT" Taylor?
I love the
I thought I miss some one or didn't hear the narrator correctly, no I heard him right, JT is missing on here
Why in the world would you leave out James J.T Taylor 😮🤔 are you serious?
Dude you need to remove this video and redo it🤨……No JT Taylor …dude he’s the lead singer (the voice of the band) Imagine making a video like this talking about Journey but totally omitting Steve Perry or the Beatles and making no mention of Paul McCartney 🤨
finally you forgot the cornerstone : JT taylor
Man no JT.
So where is JAMES JT TAYLOR??😮😮😮... He is THE VOICE of the band .
I thought he was KOOL for years and years due to his very smooth and sexy voice.
HE brought the band the love and fame it got. Come on now.......
You left out James JT Taylor. There is no Kool and the gang without JT. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO LEAVE OUT THE LEAD SINGER....
JT Taylor The best!!!👏👏👏
Yea I hate when they do that. We know it was jealousy that broke them up, but the media shouldn’t play into it.
JT became the most important part of the group’s success. It seems like someone very jealous of JT made this terrible thing
JT on his own doesn't have 1 hit record.
yet, they were slick enough to know how to use "his face" in the thumbnail.
Cheaters never win and winners never cheat. (Sometimes). LOL
@@jaymioff2470 "All I Want Is Forever" (duet with Regina Belle)
@@AP1977plus2 He has a great voice. I'm waiting for him to make a hit on his own. ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
Okay you missing somebody the man that you showing. in the thumbnail where is he at he was the lead singer. 🤷🏽♀️
Michael Ray ✌
what about the front man,the one that sings
I was waiting for James T taylor...
what happen to the lead singer ??? why did you ignore him? HE IS PART OF TH GANG BIG TIME ADUH
Faltou o principal!!
I missed a singer guy somehow. Who is it among them?
You made no comment whatsoever about James JT Taylor the lead singer of the band!🤔🤔🤔
Normal, young then old.
I am sorry,...this is only a PARTIAL representation. You left out some KEY member Foo !!!
I honestly think this person PERSONALLY has something against JT!
Sorry for thse are dead they was may favor group RIP FOR THE ONE DEAD
Why do you think the majority of us clicked to watch this video? To see JT. WTH‼️ I want my view back.😡
Faltou o JT Taylor.
1. Robert Spike Mic(k)ens
2. Clifford Adams
3. Earl Toon
4. James JT Taylor
5. Amir Bayyan
Don't forget Ricky West.
Guys You missed out James Taylor. (JT)
Dam guess it was a gang they got about 1000 people
where is J.T Taylor ???? who did this video ???? where you born yesterday?
White man who's talking got Louis Taylor confused with James Taylor at 1:51 LOL. How could you forget James Taylor when James was the lead singer of Kool And The Gang in 1980's? LOL.
10👋👋👋👋👋🌟✌️🕊️🇧🇷Brazil
No JT? Are you kidding me! The voice of the band in their 80's success. Swing and a compete miss.
Oh No, why did yall leave out J.T Taylor? Yall wrong for that. Get this Right. Give the man Credit.
OMG you put members that was deceased with the newer members of the band and didn't even mention the other band members. You mixed things up 🤦🏽♀️ BIG DO-OVER!!!
I not sure who uploaded this but you got this one wrong
And James T Taylor.