Musician Dennis āDee Teeā Thomas, a founding member of āGet Down On Itā and āCelebrationā group Kool & the Gang, has died at the age of 70. An official statement posted to the soul and funk groupās Facebook page announced on August 7 that he āpassed away peacefully in his sleepā in New Jersey. No cause was given. Thomas founded Kool & the Gang in 1964 along with brothers Robert āKoolā and Ronald āKhalisā Bell, as well as Robert āSpikeā Mickens,Ā Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. Over the decades, Kool & the Gang released 24 studio albums, earned two Grammys, and released multiple U.S. Billboard charting singles like āLadiesā Night.ā In 2020, āCelebrationā was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording registry.
Thomas was the groupās alto saxophonist, flutist, and MC during their high-energy live shows. He āwas known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,ā according to the Facebook statement. Recently, Thomas performed with Kool & the Gang at a Fourth of July concert at Los Angelesās Hollywood Bowl. This was his final show with the group. News of Thomasās death comes nearly a year after his bandmate, co-founding member and singer Ronald āKhalisā Bell, died at the age of 68. Thomas is survived by his wife, children, siblings, and āa host of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.ā