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		</div><p>George “Funky” Brown, the co-founder and long-time drummer of Kool &#038; The Gang, who helped write such hits as Too Hot, Ladies Night, Joanna, and the party favourite Celebration, has died aged 74.</p>
<p>Brown died on Thursday in Los Angeles after suffering from cancer, according to a statement released by Universal Music.</p>
<p>He had retired earlier in the year, nearly 60 years after the band began, and said he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.</p>
<p>Kool &#038; The Gang has sold millions of records with its catchy blend of jazz, funk and soul, what Brown liked to call “the sound of happiness”.</p>
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<p>In 1964 Brown helped launch the Grammy-winning group, originally called the Jazziacs, along with such friends as bassist Robert “Kool” Bell, brother Ronald Bell on keyboards and guitarist Charles Smith.</p>
<p>After years of relative obscurity, name changes and personnel changes, Kool &#038; The Gang broke through in the mid-1970s with Jungle Boogie and Hollywood Swinging among others songs.</p>
<p>The band peaked in the late 70s-mid 1980s, with hits ranging from the ballads Cherish and Joanna to the up-tempo, chart-topping Celebration, now a standard at weddings and other festive gatherings.</p>
<p>In 2023 Brown produced the band’s latest album, People Just Wanna Have Fun, and released his memoir Too Hot: Kool &#038; The Gang &#038; Me.</p>
<p>He is survived by his wife, Hanh Brown, and his five children.</p>
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