George ‘Funky’ Brown, drummer for the legendary Kool & The Gang, died at 74 after a battle with cancer.
Brown released a memoir, Too Hot: Kool & The Gang and Me, earlier this year.
Brown was a founding member of the band in 1964 and helped write classics like “Jungle Boogie,” “Celebration,” and “Ladies Night.”
But his impact goes far beyond that – Brown’s drumming has been sampled by countless hip-hop and pop artists, including Jay-Z, Diddy, Beastie Boys, Madonna, and Janet Jackson.
The only surviving Kool & The Gang member is Robert “Kool” Bell.
Brown is survived by his wife, Hahn Brown, and his five children.
