Key West announced Kool & The Gang with The Village People at The Key West Amphitheater at Truman Waterfront on Feb. 21.
Kool & the Gang, officially launched in 1969 (after performing for five years under various band titles) has influenced the music of three generations and, after 50 years, the band has become true recording industry legends. Thanks to iconic songs like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Open Sesame, they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.
From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. A reviewer recently called their performance “a 24-karat show” and every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe.
Village People is the greatest disco group in the world. Their music is part of the international songbook. The debut album, released in 1977, featured the hit hit singles “San Francisco (You Got Me)” and “In Hollywood (Everybody’s A Star).” Over the years, various renditions of Village People (for purposes of live performers) have consistently toured the world since the mid-1980s with use of various replacement lead singers, and characters.
As the 40th anniversary of the group’s founding neared, Victor Willis who was Village People before Village People even existed returned with a fresh re-boot of the group. His powerful and distinctive voice is known the world-over on all the group’s hits. Now, the group (along with their live band) once again stage world class Village People performances. Village People are: Victor Willis (original lead singer, co-founder and writer of all the biggest hits); Angel Morales (Native American); Chad Freeman (Cowboy); James Lee (G.I.); Jeffrey “J.J.’ Lippold (Leatherman); and James Kwong (construction worker).
Tickets are available online at www.keywestconcertseries.com
