Coincidently, I've been listening to a lot of Kool & The Gang recently. They've got a great catalog and this one is definitely one of my favorites. I need to see what other songs of their's you've reacted to because you said you hadn't seen this side of them before. Their sound changed over the years. They started off with very soulful R&B music and eventully started doing more Pop sounding music which "Cherish" is an example of.
A very beautiful, cherishable reaction 🌈❤💐! Yes, James "JT" Taylor hit that high note 🎤👨🏾🎤! I see 👁👁 that you have reacted to Kool & The Gang before: Get Down On It, Celebration and Ladies Night. Cherish was the third single from Kool & The Gang's 1984 album: Emergency. It was written by Kool & The Gang and Sandy Linzer. It was produced by Jim Bonnefond and Kool & The Gang. The song reached #1 on the R&B, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #2 on the Hot 100. The music video was directed by Bill Mason and filmed in Long Island, New York. The single was certified Gold (500,000). The song, since its release, has become a wedding song staple at many weddings. While recording their 1984 album: Emergency, the band decided to record in the Bahamas at Compass Point Studios in Nassau. While working along the beach, lead singer James "JT" Taylor watched the band members' children happily at play and thought to himself: "How blessed we are. God has been good to us and we should cherish it". James "JT" Taylor submitted the idea to the band's bass player Robert "Kool" Bell, who ran with it. This song had special meaning for Robert "Kool" Bell, who found out his father was listening to the song when he passed away in October 1985. Ronald "Kool" Bell, the band's saxophonist and music director, started collecting lots of new music equipment at the time, including a piece included on this track: a drum machine. Ronald "Kool" Bell furnished the track and gave it to James "JT" Taylor to write the lyrics, who said it was the first time he'd ever written a song in one sitting without any changes. Producer Jim Bonnefond did want to overhaul the song with new lyrics, though, and even brought in songwriter Sandy Linzer for the task. But Sandy Linzer wasn't having it. "They used maybe a couple of lines in the chorus that I gave them gratis, but I thought the song was perfect", he told Billboard. The song was featured in the 2009 film 📽: 17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry. The song has been covered by many artists including 📻: Deniece Williams, Alexander O'Neal, The Katinas, Frank Farian, Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra, Pappa Bear, Katie Price and Peter Andre, Ca$h, Barry Biggs, Chris Doran, Wink, Kool & The Gang ft Ashanti, Sanchez and more. Song Credits 📝: James "J.T." Taylor - lead vocals, backing vocals Curtis "Fitz" Williams - keyboards, Ronald Bell - Oberheim OB-8, tenor saxophone, backing vocals Claydes Charles Smith - guitars Robert "Kool" Bell - bass guitar George "Funky" Brown - drums Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas - alto saxophone Clifford Adams - trombone, additional backing vocals Robert "Spike" Mickens - trumpet Michael Ray - trumpet Lyrics 🗒: Let's take a walk together near the ocean shore Hand in hand you and I Let's cherish every moment we have been given The time is passing by I often pray before I lay down by your side If you receive your calling before I awake Could I make it through the night Cherish the love we have We should cherish the life we live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love we have For as long as we both shall live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love The world is always changing Nothing stays the same But love will stand the test of time The next life that we live in Remains to be seen Will you be by my side? I often pray before I lay down by your side And if you receive your calling before I awake Could I make it through the night Cherish the love we have We should cherish the life we live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love we have For as long as we both shall live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love we have We should cherish the life we live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love we have For as long as we both shall live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love we have We should cherish the life we live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Cherish the love we have For as long as we both shall live Cherish the love Cherish the life Cherish the love Kool & The Gang Info 📰: Kool & The Gang is a R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell & Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown & Ricky West. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, rock & pop music. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool And The Gang (1969). Kool & The Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. Kool & The Gang's discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums. The band's first taste of success came with the release of their fourth album: Wild And Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Kool & The Gang subsequently entered a period of mainstream decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of lead singer James "JT" Taylor to the line-up. Their most successful albums of this period included: Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980) and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US No. 1 "Celebration", "Get Down On It", "Joanna", "Misled", and "Cherish". In February 1988, news of James "JT" Taylor's departure from the band to pursue a solo career was reported in the press. The group had discussed pursuing solo projects during the previous year, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas suggesting the band had considered splitting into twos or threes. James "JT" Taylor was replaced by three vocalists: Sennie "Skip" Martin, Odeen Mays and Gary Brown. In 1995, James "JT" Taylor returned to the band for the album: State Of Affairs (1996), hailed as the group's "comeback" album. All songs on this album were written by Ronald Bell and James "JT" Taylor. James "JT" Taylor left the band for a second time in 1999. Kool & The Gang, admist minor line-up changes, would continue on throughout the 2000s releasing new albums and touring worldwide. In 2021, the group released Perfect Union, their 25th studio album and first album of new material in 14 years. The album was produced by Ronald Bell before his 2020 death. Kool & The Gang continue to perform their music live on stage in the US and worldwide in 2024. Honors And Awards 🏅: During 2003 the band was bestowed with a Mobo Award for Outstanding Achievement. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2015, 50 years after the group's formation, they received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During that year they were also inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Within 2016 a Jersey City street was renamed the "Kool and the Gang Way". In 2018, Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown and JT Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2019, Kool & The Gang was also bestowed with the Marian Anderson Award. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected "Celebration" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally historically or aesthetically significant". ****CONTINUE BELOW****
Kool & The Gang Current Members 🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾: Robert "Kool" Bell: bass guitar, vocals (1964- present) George "Funky" Brown: drums (1964-1989), percussion, keyboards (1989-1993),(1998-present) Michael Ray: trumpet, vocals (1979-present) Curtis "Fitz" Williams: keyboards, alto saxophone (1982-present) Shawn McQuiller: vocals, guitar (1991-present) Timothy Horton: drums, percussion (1998-present) Kool & The Gang Former Members 👨🏾🎤🎹🎷🎸🥁🎺🎤🪘🎸🥁🎷🎹🎺👨🏾🎤🪘: Ronald Bell: tenor saxophone, keyboards (1964-1989, 1992-2020; died 2020) Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas: alto saxophone (1964-2021; died 2021) Ricky West: keyboards (1964-1976; died 1985) Claydes Charles Smith: lead guitar (1964-2006; died 2006) Robert "Spike" Mickens: trumpet (1964-1986; died 2010) Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow: rhythm and lead guitar (1964-1969; died 1969) James "JT" Taylor: lead vocals (1979-1988, 1995-1999, 2018) Sennie "Skip" Martin: trumpet, vocals (1988-2007) Mark Blakey: drums (1988-1989) Gary Brown: vocals (1988-1990) Odeen Mays: keyboards, vocals (1988-1997) Robert "Robbie G" Goble: drums (1989-1993) Gerald Harris: keyboards (1992-1995) Kool & The Gang Members Who Passed Away 🙏🏾: Rick West, the group's original keyboardist, who left in 1976 to form his own band, passed away in 1985. Guitarist Charles Smith passed away after a long illness in 2006 and was replaced by the Bells' youngest brother, Amir Bayyan, former leader of the Kay Gees. Original trumpet player Robert "Spike" Mickens, who retired in 1986 due to poor health, passed away at the age of 59 on November 2, 2010, at a nursing home in Far Rockaway, New York. Trombonist Clifford Alanza Adams Jr passed away in January 2015 at the age of 62 after a year-long battle with cancer. Alanza Adams Jr, who had been with Kool & The Gang since 1977, had no health insurance to cover medical expenses. Saxophonist Ronald "Khalis Bayyan" Bell passed away suddenly in September 2020; the cause of passing was not made public. Alto saxophonist Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas passed away in his sleep on August 7, 2021 at the age of 70. Drummer George “Funky” Brown passed away from lung cancer on November 16, 2023, at the age of 74. Kool & The Gang Albums 📀: Kool And The Gang (1969) Music Is The Message (1972) Good Times (1972) Wild And Peaceful (1973) Light Of Worlds (1974) Spirit Of The Boogie (1975) Love & Understanding (1976) Open Sesame (1976) The Force (1977) Everybody's Dancin' (1978) Ladies' Night (1979) Celebrate! (1980) Something Special (1981) As One (1982) In the Heart (1983) Emergency (1984) Forever (1986) Sweat (1989) Unite (1992) State Of Affairs (1996) Gangland (2001) The Hits: Reloaded (2004) Still Kool (2007) Kool For The Holidays (2013) Perfect Union (2021) People Just Want To Have Fun (2023) James "JT" Taylor Albums 📀: Master Of The Game (1989) Feel The Need (1991) Baby I'm Back (1993) A Brand New Me (2000) Some more good Kool & The Gang songs 🎶: Summer Madness, Hollywood Swinging, Jungle Boogie, Let The Music Take Your Mind, Funky Stuff, Rhyme Tyme People, Higher Plane, Too Hot, Spirit Of The Boogie, Fresh, Love And Understanding, Come Together, Joanna, Steppin' Out, Emergency, Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It), Misled, Stone Love, Tonight, Victory, Where Da Boogie At!, Music Is The Message, Funky Man, Rated X, Good Times, The Gang's Back Again, Serious, Holiday, Big Fun, Kool & The Gang, Straight Ahead, N.T., Love The Life You Live, I Wanna Take You Higher, Got You Into My Life, If You Feel Like Dancin', Tonight's The Night, Breeze & Soul, Hangin' Out, Chocolate Buttermilk, Sea Of Tranquility, Dujii, Give It Up, Since I Lost My Baby, Kools Back Again, The Gangs Back Again, Raw Hamburger, Ricksonata, Sombrero Sam, Walk On By, Ike's Mood, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, Lucky For Me, Who's Gonna Take The Weight Part 1 & 2, Trying To Make A Fool Of Me, Wichita Lineman, Funky Man, The Touch Of You, What Would The World Be Like Without Music, Good Times, Country Junky, Wild Is Love, Father Father, North East South West, Making Merry Music, I Remember John W Coltrane, Funky Stuff, Music Is The Message, Pneumonia, Electric Frog (Part 1 & 2), Soul Vibrations, Love The Life You Live (Part 1 & 2), Stop Look & Listen, Blowing With The Wind, More Funky Stuff, Heaven At Once, This Is You This Is Me, Funky Granny, Life Is What You Make It, Wild And Peaceful, Street Corner Symphony, Rhyme Tyme People, Light Of Worlds, Whiting H & G, You Don't Have To Change, Here After, Free, Fruitman, Ride The Rhythm, Mother Earth, Jungle Jazz, Sunshine And Love, Ancestral Ceremony, All Night Long, Winter Sadness, Caribbean Festival, Open Sesame, Gift Of Love, Sugar, Whisper Softly, Little Children, Super Band, L-O-V-E, The Force, Oasis, Sunshine, Do It Right Now, A Place In Space, Just Be True, Life's A Song, Mighty Mighty High, Slick Superchick, Cosmic Energy, Universal Sound, You Deserve A Break Today, Love Festival, Stay Awhile, Big Chief Funkum, I Like Music, At The Party, It's All You Need, Peace To The Universe, Na Na Na, Dancin' Shoes, Love Affair, Jones Vs Jones, Take It To The Top, No Show, Everybody's Dancin', Morning Star, Night People, Just Friends, Good Time Tonight, Street Kids, As One, VIP, Pretty Baby,Think It Over, Surrender, Be My Lady, Pass It On, Stand Up And Sing, In The Heart, Rollin', Home Is Where The Heart Is, Place For Us, Straight Ahead, You Can Do It, September Love, Bad Woman, You Are The One, Victory, Forever, Peace Maker, Special Way, God's Country, Broadway, I Sweat, This Is What A Love Can Do, Never Give Up, You Got My Heart On Fire, In Your Company, I'll Follow You Anywhere, All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Raindrops, How Can I Get Close To You, Pretty Little Sexy Miss, You Are The Meaning Of Friend, Someday, (Jump Up On The) Rhythm And Ride, Better Late Than Never, Heart, My Search Is Over, Unite, Brown, Summer, Reunited, I Think I Love You, Love Come Down, The Weight, Color Line, Steppin' Into Love, Give Right Now To You, Show Us The Way To Love, In The Hood, Second Thoughts, Crabs In A Barrel, Woman Lover Friend, Game Of Love, Friends, God Will Find You, Dave, Spatial Relationships, Miss Lead, Party People, America, What's Happening, Is What It Is, Made For Love, Everything's Gonna Change, Too Low For Zero, Bang Bang With The Gang, Trust Me, Miracles, Livin' In The 21, Sorry, Give It Up, Someone Like You, Sailing (Instrumental), Life In The 90's, My Body, The Christmas Song, High, All To Myself, Christmas Always, Leave It On The Dance Floor, People Just Wanna Have Fun, Home For The Holidays, We Are The Party, Hi De Hi Hi De Ho, Pursuit Of Happiness, Give Love, Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours), The Weekend, Christmas Tyme (The Perfect Time For Love), My Weakness, For The Woman In You, Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La La La), Ronnie's Groove, That's What I Love About You, I.B.M.C., Heaven's Gift, Obsession and Salute To The Ladies. Fun Fact 🕵🏾♂: Kool & The Gang's 1984 song: "Cherish", is ranked as the biggest Adult Contemporary music chart hit of the 1980s.
