Kool and The Gang at Toyota Oakdale Theatre

In 1964, seven school friends gathered together to form a band, playing mainly Rhythm and Blues, Soul music. They played regularly in local New Jersey jazz clubs under a variety of band names until they decoded in 1969 on the name Kool and the Gang. They moved to New York and performed regularly in the theaters and clubs until they released their first successful record in 1973.

Between 1969 and 1986 the band really started to became profitable, in both recognition and, thankfully, commercially. In 1984, Kool and the Gang became part of the huge fund-raising performance, invited by and organized by Bob Gandalf, to perform at the Glastonbury Festival, ‘Do They Know It's Christmas.’ In their 50-year musical career, Kool and the Gang released over 25 albums and have sold over 70 million records worldwide.

By the early 2000s, the band were finally recognized and were rewarded for their music performances, earning two Grammy Awards and a staggering seven American Music Awards. In 2015 Kool and the Gang earned their very own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.