Kool & The Gang Co-Founder Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas Dead at Age 70

Dennis “Dee Tee" Thomas, Kool & The Gang co-founder and the bands master of ceremonies at concerts, died “peacefully in his sleep” Saturday at his home in New Jersey, according to the Associated Press.

Courtesy of K.T.F.A. Entertainment Inc

Thomas, 70, was one of seven friends who created the seminal soul group. Along with brothers Ronald and Robert Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith, he founded the Jazziacs in 1964, which would eventually become Kool & The Gang.

Under that moniker the group has enjoyed decades of success, particularly in the late 70s and early 80s when the ablums “Ladies' Night “(1979), “Celebrate!” (1980), and “Emergency” (1984) produced multiple high-charting hits including Billboard No. 1“Celebration," "Get Down on It," "Joanna,” "Misled" and "Cherish.”

Born February 9, 1951 in Orlando, Florida, Thomas was a saxophonist, flutist and percussionist. His last performance with Kool & The Gang came on July 4th of this year at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He is the second member of the band to die in recent years. Ronald Bell died on September 9 of last year, aged 68.

Kool & the Gang has sold more than 70 million records worldwide according to the New Jersey Hall of Fame, released more than two dozen albums and won two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards.