Music publisher Primary Wave Music has purchased a stake in Kool & The Gang’s founding member, George Brown’s catalog. Drummer George Brown along with Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, and James “J.T.” Taylor, was one of the main songwriters in the historic group.
Announced on Wednesday (June 28), the multi-million-dollar deal includes Brown’s and Kool & The Gang’s biggest hits such as “Hollywood Swinging,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish,” and the #1 hit “Ladies Night.”
“I am very pleased to call Primary Wave my music partner and to join with dozens of other iconic artists and creatives in an incredible business family,” said George Brown. “I look forward to collaborating with Larry Mestel and the entire Primary Wave team to further enhance my catalog and the Kool & The Gang brand.”
Kool & The Gang formed as a band and started making music in the late 60s. Their sound defined the 70s and 80s producing family-fun hits that are still in rotation at cookouts and weddings today. We previously reported that the group recently released a new single, “Let’s Party”, from their forthcoming album People Just Want to Have Fun.
Samples
The groups timeless hits have been featured and sampled across the entertainment-sphere for decades including music, commercials, and film. “Jungle Boogie” was in Pulp Fiction while “Summer Madness” appeared in Rocky. The instrumental has also been sampled countless times by artists including DJ Kool, Mase, Too Short, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Boogie Down Productions, Brand Nubian, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, N.W.A., Kris Kross and Jermaine Dupri. According to the website WhoSampled, the group has been sampled over 1,800 times.
The new partnership will give George Brown access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities, and film & TV production.
“Kool and the Gang’s influence on generations of musicians and fans around the globe cannot be denied,” said Samantha Rhulen, SVP, Business and Legal Affairs at Primary Wave Music.