Kool & the Gang Co-Founder and Drummer, George Brown, Passes Away at 74

Drummer and songwriter George Brown, a co-founder of the renowned band Kool & the Gang, passed away at the age of 74. The sad news was conveyed to CNN through an email from the band's publicist Jerry Digney. Brown, unfortunately, lost his battle with cancer in Los Angeles.

Originally known as the Jazziacs in 1964, Brown and his fellow musicians Ricky Westfield, Ronald Bell, Robert "Kool" Bell, Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, and Charles Smith united to create a unique blend of jazz, soul, and funk. With a series of name changes such as The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, and Kool & The Flames, they eventually settled on the name Kool & The Gang and officially started their musical journey in 1969.

Brown had a significant role in writing several of the band's most well-known songs. These include "Ladies Night" from their 1979 album of the same name, along with "Too Hot," "Jungle Boogie," "Summer Madness," "Open Sesame," "Celebration," and "Cherish."

The band earned three Grammy Award nominations and emerged victorious in 1979 with the soundtrack album for "Saturday Night Fever." Additionally, they received seven American Music Awards, a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, and were honored with inductions into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The early Kool & The Gang recordings featuring Browns signature drumming have been widely sampled by renowned artists including Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cypress Hill, and The Killers, among others. Brown, who recently retired in August of this year, had been touring with Kool & the Gang, making him a part of one of the longest-running R&B groups in history.

Brown released his memoir this year, titled "Too Hot: Kool & The Gang And Me." His publicists shared this week that when asked to define his music, the artist consistently described it as "the sound of happiness."

Brown is survived by his wife Hanh Brown and five sons.