Robert “Kool” Bell doesn’t just make music. He’s part of the rhythm of our lives. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel chats with the co-founder of Kool & The Gang to go beyond the hits and into the heart behind them. From the unexpected rise of “Celebration” to the legacy of a sound that’s been sampled across generations, Kool reflects on a career that has shaped weddings, dance floors, and defining life moments around the world.
But this conversation hits deeper. Kool opens up about the songs he wishes he had recorded, shouting out legends like Marvin Gaye and Prince, and shares the origin story of the Kool Kids Foundation, inspired by his late wife and built to bring music education back to young people. There’s even a wild, full-circle moment involving the group Color Me Badd that started with a chance encounter and turned into music history.
Follow and learn more
• Kool & The Gang:https://www.koolandthegang.com
• Kool Kids Foundation: https://koolkidsfoundation.org
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/koolandthegang
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Life Elements
City of SLO
Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective
Moonshiner on Spotify HERE
Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com
©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.
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