The band itself informed about the death of its founding member on Facebook. “On August 7, Dennis Thomas, also known as Dee Tee, beloved husband, father and co-founder of Kool & the Gang, left peacefully in his sleep in New Jersey,” said the band Thomas last performed with in early July this year.
Friends from the band described the deceased teammate as the group’s biggest dude, who also took care of the costumes, and in the early days Kool & the Gang also worked as a treasurer who watched over earnings. Thomas also played the saxophone or flute, and at concerts he was the one who heckted the audience and did the shows.
The history of Kool & the Gang began in 1964, when seven friends formed a band combining elements of jazz, funk and soul. At first they performed as Jazziacs, then from 1969 under the name Kool & the Gang, which they had left.
As he recalls British BBC, the band is famous for hits like Celebration or Get down on it, and its music is also known to movie fans – for example, from Saturday Night Fever or Pulp Fiction. In 2015, the band also received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Remember the Celebration hit:
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