Kool & The Gang Drummer George ‘Funky’ Brown Passed Away At 74 @victoriasaidit November 17, 2023 at 2:18 pm in WHUR Tweet 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. Tags: Beastie Boys, Diddy, George 'Funky' Brown, George Brown, Janet Jackson, Jay Z, Kool & The Gang Drummer, Madonna