In anticipation of R&B, funk, and soul icons Kool & The Gang celebrating their 60th anniversary next year, they’ve announced a new album today (5/3/23) via an official press release. The album titled “People Just Wanna Have Fun” is expected to release on July 14, 2023, on Astana Music Inc, distributed by BFD/The Orchard.
With six decades of hits, the internationally celebrated group continues to tour the world led by founding members Robert “Kool” Bell (bassist) and George “Funky” Brown (keyboardist, drummer & producer) of this album. In addition to the album, Brown will release his book on July 11, 2023, titled “Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me.”
Continuing to release music that makes the good times better and the bad times more bearable, this collection will be the band’s 34th studio album, featuring some of the last studio work by founding horn players, Kool’s brother Ronald “Khalis” Bell and Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, who passed in 2020 and 2021. Lead vocals on the album also include Sha Sha Jones, Shawn McQuiller, Lavell Evans, Dominique Karan, Rick Marcel, and Walt Anderson, plus rappers Ami Miller & Ole’.
Both Bell and Brown view People Just Wanna Have Fun as a summation of their long career, during which they sold 70 million albums worldwide with hit singles like “Celebration,” “Ladies Night,” “Get Down on It,” “Hollywood Swinging” & beyond. Since their start in 1964, the group has amassed two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kool’s bass guitar is even featured in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Check out the Album’s track list and tour dates below.
Album Track List:
1. Let’s Party
2. Movie Star
3. People Just Wanna Have Fun
4. We Are The Party
5. V.I.P.
6. Na Na Na
7. Go Get It
8. Give Love
9. I Want It All
10. Heaven’s Gift
11. Obsession
12. The Woman In You
13. My Weakness
14. That’s What I Love About You
15. 99 Miles To JC
Tour Dates:
May 5 @ Westgate Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
May 6 @ Westgate Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
May 11 @ Hampton Beach Casino & Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH
May 12 @ NYCB Theatre – Westbury, NY
May 13 @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre – Wallingford, CT
May 14 @ MGM Music Hall – Boston, MA
May 20 @ Ion Arena – Leesburg, VA
May 27 @ The Majestic Theatre – San Antonio, TX
June 1 @ indigo @ The O2 – London, UK
June 3 @ Dreamland – Margate, Great Britain
June 9 @ Hampton Court Palace – East Molesey, Great Britain
June 11 @ Childerley Orchard – Cambridge, Great Britain
June 12 @ Ancient Theatre – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
June 30 @ Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre – Detroit, MI
July 1 @ Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre – Youngstown, OH
July 2 @ Haddad Riverfront Park – Charleston, NC
July 14 @ Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
July 15 @ Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
July 22 @ Flushing Meadows Corona Park – Corona, NY
September 16 @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheater – Mableton, GA
September 24 @ Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA