Robert “Kool” Bell Interview: Six Decades of Kool & The Gang, Global Tours, and New Ventures
- Nikoleta Morales
- 5 hours ago
- 8 min read
Legendary Bandleader Robert “Kool” Bell on 60 Years of Kool & The Gang, New Tours, and Ventures
Cultured Focus Magazine recently interviewed the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Robert Kool Bell, the only surviving co-founder and leader of the Grammy-winning band Kool & the Gang. The band’s classic hits include “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Summer Madness,” “Ladies Night,” “Get Down on It,” and the number one hit, “Celebration.” The band has toured with legends like Elton John and Van Halen. Kool & the Gang has sold over 80 million albums worldwide with 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums under its belt.
The Kool & the Gang journey started 60 years ago in the 1960s when Kool and his brother Ronald/Khalis joined neighborhood friends Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create the band. The band went through numerous name changes before choosing the final name, Kool & the Gang, in 1968.
In addition to music, Kool has invested in Le Kool champagne and the newly founded Kool King Coconut Water. With his departed wife, Sakinah, he co-founded the non-profit music education initiative, the Kool Kids Foundation. Kool also recently appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. He is also planning a summer tour in Europe this year. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony took place in 2024 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Ohio.
Check out what Robert Kool shared with us about his journey, music, and recent endeavors:
Nikoleta: Robert Kool, you are a legend. You have so many fans around the world, so I just want to start by saying congratulations on your recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is well deserved. I just wanted to dive in and let you tell the fans how you're doing, how you're feeling, and what's new in Robert Kool’s world.
Robert: Well, I feel great right now. We are getting ready for our tour this year, especially for our fans in Europe. We'll be in Europe, August through September. And we're doing a lot of other things, so I feel very good about that. My champagne is doing fine. We got a coconut water that we just came out with, called Kool King Coconut. So I am staying busy.
Nikoleta: Well, and speaking of Europe, I am originally from Bulgaria, so I'm just curious, will you be performing in Bulgaria?
Robert: I gotta look at my schedule. I know we're doing about 15 shows at the end of August. July, August, you know. Bulgaria could be one of them, yeah.
Nikoleta: Because I know in the past you have performed there in Sofia, so did you enjoy Bulgaria? What did you think of the culture? Did you like it?
Robert: Sofia's been great, yeah. I really like Bulgaria. I think over the last, maybe, 10 years, I might have been there a couple of times. We will be doing Germany, France, England, and Spain, coming up, around that time period, July into August. Sicily, yeah, yeah. I guess my agent can send you the itinerary, so you can see exactly what we do.
Nikoleta: Exciting. Yes, all the fans around the world are looking forward to your tours, and that's great news for them. I know you mentioned a little bit of the coconut water, and I did see that it's new and coming out. How did the coconut water idea come to be? Tell us a little bit more about where we can find it, along with the famous champagne.
Robert: Well, the coconut water, we're just really getting it started for this year. It's from Sri Lanka and India. Okay, and it's called Kool King Coconut. It is very good. So far, Miami's taken off, Jersey's taken off. So, it's gonna be great. We feel good about it. The champagne's been around for a minute, as you know. Yes. We've been on celebrity cruise ships. We have a bidding happening with Fedway in Jersey. We have Tuscany in Florida, you know, we're in Las Vegas. We feel very good about it.
Nikoleta: Well, I'm definitely excited to try the coconut water. I'm a big fan of coconut water myself, and if you're looking for ambassadors, I'm sure there are lots that are excited to try it and promote it and celebrate, you know, speaking of your biggest hit celebration.
Robert: Well, we're getting a lot of good feedback from it, you know, as we did when we saw it with the champagne, almost 10 years ago. But the coconut water's taken off.
Nikoleta: You're always busy doing great things. Last year, you were on “Dancing with the Stars,” which was amazing. Tell us how it was. That's one of my favorite shows.
Robert: That came from our record company, “Dancing with the Stars.” Also, it was tied in with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They did a special with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and “Dancing with the Stars,” and we performed out there. It must have been about a month ago.
Nikoleta: You did amazing, brought lots of celebration and fun to the floor, and speaking of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, how are you feeling about this? What's the emotion? Because you've been in the industry for so long, you've seen all these changes, and I'm sure it feels rewarding to be a part of it. What's that like?
Robert: It's been great. It took 60 years to get there, but it's been great. I mean, the feedback. As I said, we did “Dancing with the Stars,” and the Rock Hall of Fame did that together. That went off very well. We got a lot of feedback when we did the Rock Hall of Fame, you know, so it's really been great.
Nikoleta: You've seen a lot of changes during the years in that industry. What have you seen has changed the most since you started?
Robert: Well, it's been an up-and-down career, actually. But that's how the music business can be, you know, like a roller coaster ride. But it's been great the last couple of years. I guess just, you know, a reflection to some degree on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We have done Van Halen, Dave Matthews, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Dash Strait. All these are rock groups that we played for. We did three shows with Van Halen. You know, with David Lee Roth and the gang. So it's been, it's been great, the fact that it took that long to get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Nikoleta: You're legendary Robert and Kool & the Gang is a legendary band. You've achieved so much with Grammy Awards, and just so much behind your belt. Is there anything that you feel you haven't achieved yet that's on your list?
Robert: Yet to come. But one thing that we really like is that they played “Celebration” in the space station. That's incredible. They were like, yeah, that was a good one for them. Another good one, in Vegas, about four weeks ago. That's when the Raiders were playing Jacksonville. We played at halftime. That was great. I mean, the Raiders almost won that game, too. So, one day, maybe we'll get a Super Bowl, and we'll get the actual halftime. I mean, that was kind of like a Super Bowl within itself, you know, in Vegas, but yes. We're looking up there.
Nikoleta: Well, hearing “Celebration” from Space sounds like quite an achievement. That is amazing. If there's an E.T. world out there, they get to hear it. “Celebration” is definitely the song that deserves that recognition. And I am just curious, you've been asked so many questions over the years, I'm sure, with interviews and journalists, but is there one question that you haven't been asked and you wish that they asked you?
Robert: One that they never ask? That's a good question, because they've asked a whole lot of questions over the years. This was earlier in my career. I was asked a question back in Jersey, that's where I'm from. They said, like, every 10 years, the people see if we're still around. And then, some kids came up to me and said, ‘Are you still working?’ I said, ‘Yes, I'm gonna go to Europe next week’. That question is asked. Are you guys still out there? Yeah, we're working the whole world. We're global.
Nikoleta: You're an example that with hard work and legendary talent, you can definitely go far, so you're an inspiration to a lot of fans and a lot of musicians. What advice would you give to the people who are starting and are looking up to you, and they have visions to make it all the way?
Robert: Well, I think that, first of all, they have to be serious about it and learn more about the music business. As we've gotten, you know, more about publishing, more about licensing, more about hopefully getting a good lawyer that could represent you, pay your taxes, all that good stuff you have to do. Okay, that's my advice. And stay strong. If it doesn't happen to you, I mean, it doesn't happen for you right away. Don't give up, because our career has been hills and valleys, too. You know? But we're still here, and we still love what we do.
Nikoleta: What helps you persevere, Robert? What helps you stay strong and never give up?
Robert: Yeah, well, I mean, try to make it in this business. You know, I got a saying that you live and learn, and then you learn to live. And we have a song called “Love the Life You Live,” so that you can live that life that you love. And maybe an “Open Sesame” for you, or “Get Down on It.” Or maybe a “Ladies' Night,” or maybe a “Joanna,” or maybe “Cherish.” Staying there. That's the main thing.
Nikoleta: Absolutely, I love “Ladies Night.” That's my gem. I love it. So, I know you're a busy man, Robert, and I know you have places to go, so I'm not going to keep you too long, but one last question for you is, what would you like to say to the fans out there?
Robert: I want to say to the fans that we thank you for supporting us for so many years, and this is not an easy business. Some bands can't stay together for two weeks. They leave, they break up. We've been able to do it for 60 years. Okay, so we're thankful for that.
Nikoleta: Congratulations on all your achievements, and it was a pleasure and honor talking to you, and I can't wait to see more, and I'm sure the fans as well.
Robert: Oh, I lost my seven original members. All of my original members passed. I'm the last one standing in terms of the original Kool Gang. I have other members. I got the Magnificent 10 now, I call it. You know, in my Magnificent 10, the guys have been with me 30 years, 20 years, 18 years, etc, etc, a part of it. And we're out there rocking and rolling this year.
Nikoleta: That's the key, rock and roll! The last man standing, Robert, but you're doing amazing work. I'm sure they're out cheering you from heaven, so thank you so much for everything. I can't wait to see what's next, and thank you for being part of Cultured Focus Magazine as well.
Robert: Okay, I'm thankful to support.
Robert “Kool” Bell’s journey underscores how endurance, gratitude, and reinvention can keep an artist connected to audiences across generations. His focus on touring with a tight new band lineup, expanding lifestyle brands, and uplifting younger musicians signals that his story is still unfolding, with many more stages, songs, and celebrations yet to come.
If you are interested in knowing more about what is going on in Robert Kool’s world, check out https://www.koolandthegang.com/robert-kool-bell. For more on the Kool King Coconut Water, check out: https://koolking.tv/. For more on The Kool Kids Foundation, check out: https://www.koolkidsfoundation.org/.