Few bands adapted to changing trends in the ‘70s and ‘80s with as much chart-topping success as Kool & The Gang. Originally formed as a jazz ensemble before finding their destiny as dance-floor kingpins, Kool & The Gang blended their various influences to create music that had wide appeal without losing its deep sense of groove. Whether they were embracing synth slickness on R&B slow-burners like “Too Hot,” adding bright horns to the meaty funk of “Spirit of the Boogie,” or penning infectious disco-pop numbers like “Ladies Night,” Kool & The Gang were party starters of the highest order.