Kool & The Gang drummer George Brown dead at 74: Musician passes away from lung cancer after creating the hit songs Ladies Night and Jungle Boogie
- He died Thursday evening at his home in Los Angeles of lung cancer
- In addition to being a drummer, he was a songwriter for the hit band
- Some of their top songs were Ladies Night, Too Hot, Jungle Boogie, Celebration
George Brown has died at the age of 74.
The musician was the main drummer and a founding member of the popular 1970s band Kool & The Gang, which had dozens of hits with heavy radio play.
He died Thursday evening at his home in Los Angeles of lung cancer TMZ. The star had been battling stage four cancer for a while and was even in remission for a while before the cancer came back.
“George Brown passed away on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer,” his rep told the site.
In addition to being a drummer, he was a songwriter for the hit band that had many classic disco tunes.
Some of their top songs were Ladies Night, Too Hot, Jungle Boogie, Celebration and Cherish.
Sad loss: George Brown has passed away at the age of 74. The musician was the main drummer and a founding member of the popular 709s band Kool & The Gang, which had dozens of hits. According to TMZ, he died of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday evening; seen in 2019
(L-R) Musicians Dennis Thomas, George Brown, Robert Bell and Ronald Bell attend the 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center in 2017
George spoke about his cancer with KCAL News last month.
He had had lung cancer and was in remission and returned to work when the cancer returned.
The band formed in 1964 in Jersey City, New Jersey and had their self-titled first album in 1969.
The other founding members included brothers Robert Bell (bass) and Ronald Bell (keyboards), Dennis Thomas (saxophone), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Ricky West (keyboards) and Charles Smith (guitarist).
Robert ‘Kool’ Bell is the only remaining member of the band.
Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman’s Award for Artistic Achievement.
The star had been battling stage four cancer for some time. “George Brown passed away on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer,” his rep told the site
2019 Marian Anderson Award Honorees George Brown, Robert ‘Kool’ Bell, Dennis Thomas and Ronald Bell of Kool & The Gang pose on stage with award during the 2019 Marian Anderson Award honoring Kool & The Gang at The Kimmel Center in 2019
In 2013, the group released a Christmas album Kool for the Holidays. This was the group’s 24th studio album.
In 2015, the group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Brown is survived by his wife, Hanh Brown, and his five children.
A spokesperson for Brown asked if donations would be made in his honor to the Lung Cancer Society of America.