Kool & the Gang set for ‘Celebration’ at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction: ‘It’s gonna be a good time’

nypost.com:

“Celebration,” their 1980 party anthem that became their only No. 1 single.But it’s the R&B group that formed 60 years ago in 1964 that will be reveling in their own “good times” when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.“They finally recognized us,” bandleader and co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell told The Post about their enshrinement on their first nomination — 30 years after they were first eligible in 1994. “It’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and we were wondering [if they thought we weren’t rock enough].”But it’s “bittersweet” that Bell, at 74, is the only surviving original member who will be inducted by Public Enemy’s Chuck D in an eclectic class of 2024 that also includes Mary J.

Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. At least James “J.T.” Taylor — who in 1979 became the lead singer on hits such as “Ladies’ Night,” “Too Hot,” “Get Down on It,” “Joanna” and “Cherish” — will be present, although he left the group in 1988 to pursue a solo career.

No doubt, he’ll get the party started with “Celebration” during their performance.The enduring classic was born out of another festive occasion — after Kool & the Gang performed “Ladies’ Night” at the 1980 American Music Awards. “When we came back,” said Bell, “my brother [Ronald Bell] said, ‘I have another idea for a song: ‘Celebration.’”In fact, it was a sequel of sorts to “Ladies’ Night.” “The end of ‘Ladies’ Night’ was ‘This is your night tonight/Come on, let’s all celebrate,’” Bell explained about his late brother’s stroke of inspiration. “He took another groove, and it was kinda funky, but it had that down-home vibe to it, like.