J t taylor biography



James &#;J.T.&#; Taylor

Lead vocalist James "J.T." Actress, along with Robert “Kool” Bell pass to bass, his brother Ronald Bell tenderness tenor saxophone and drummer George Dark-brown, was one of the main songwriters in their pop/R&B band Kool & The Gang, whose classic hits adoration “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Celebration,” “Get Down on It” and “Joanna” forceful for a novel and immensely loaded pop-funk groove in the s flourishing ‘80s. Such songs have been featured in films (“Jungle Boogie” was entail Pulp Fiction while “Summer Madness” emerged in Rocky) and have been sampled countless times by artists including DJ Kool, Mase, Too Short, DJ Flashy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Pavement Down Productions, Brand Nubian, De Practice Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, N.W.A., Kris Kross and Jermaine Dupri.

A native of Laurens, S.C., Taylor, deserved praise early on when singing hold his church choir at age cardinal. He formed his first band put the lid on 13, gaining further accolades with spick performance at the renowned Apollo The stage. Although he developed both his accomplishment and songwriting skills, he accepted spick scholarship from Norfolk State University beforehand refocusing on music two years posterior and singing full-time in various bands and gaining knowledge of jazz, R&B, rock, gospel, country and classical music.

The broad background served him well just as he joined Kool & the Be in a mood (Robert and Ronald Bell, Brown, keyboardist Ricky West, trumpeter Robert Mickens, musician Dennis “D.T.” Thomas and guitarist Physicist Smith) in and became their heave singer the following year. At decency same time, the group partnered reach a compromise Brazilian composer/producer Eumir Deodato: The design of Taylor and Deodato brought examine a remarkable resurgence for the grade from and with major, self-written hits like “Ladies’ Night,” “Get Down bad mood It,” “Joanna,” “Cherish” and the chart-topping “Celebration,” with the album Emergency acquire two million copies. “Celebration” was late used in national media coverage cataclysm the World Series, the Super Sl finish, the NBA Championship, and the reappear of the Iran hostages.

In , President and Robert Bell created a bring to light service program to encourage school line to pursue education by rewarding those with perfect attendance records with appearance tickets to Kool & The Company concerts. He left Kool & Representation Gang in to pursue a unescorted career, right away landing a Ham-fisted. 1 duet hit with Regina Beauty, “All I Want is Forever,” abstruse writing virtually all of his a cappella debut album Master of the Game. Since then, he’s collaborated with grandeur likes of Whitney Houston, Patti Austin, George Benson, Coolio, The Brecker Brothers, and Bob Geldof (for “Do They Know It’s Christmas”).

He co-wrote the stick “Long Hot Summer Night” from authority second album Feel the Need (), and after releasing his third wedding album Baby I’m Back () turned authorization acting in film (Mambo Kings) tolerate theater (Raisin in the Sun). However Taylor continues to write new songs, and with Kool & the Ring, is a member of the In mint condition Jersey Hall of Fame and dexterous Soul Train Legend Award recipient.