Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, 70
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Thomas founded Kool & the Gang in 1964 alongside several teenage friends, including brothers Robert “Kool”Ronald “Khalis”Bell, Robert “Spike”Mickens, Charles Smith and George Brown.
The group’s mixture of funk and Jazz arrangements has been a popular sound in contemporary music. They have been featured in many films soundtracks. “Saturday Night Fever,” “Rocky,”Quentin Tarantino and his book “Pulp Fiction.
“An original member of Kool & the Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,” read the statement of his passing on the Official Facebook page of band. Dennis was an enormous personality and private person. He was also the alto saxophone player as well the flutist, percussionist and master of ceremonies for the band’s shows.”
Thomas died on August 7 in New Jersey “According to the band’s statement, the singer slept peacefully.