Kool & the Gang was a massively successful disco group, formed in 1964 (see 1964 in music) and immediately hit the pop charts with their debut, self-titled album. Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke the into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging".

The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended with 1979's Ladies Night. Their only #1 hit was 1980's "Celebration", off Celebrate. More hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun" and "Get Down on It". Their fame quickly diminished in the later part of the decade, though they continued releasing albums throughout the 80s and 1990s.