Deep Groove Encyclopedia

Kay Gees

Click below for a Kay Gees sample:

A funk and disco group with a groove closely associated with the "New York sound" of the 70s as defined by De-Lite Records, the Kay Gees were proteges of Kool and the Gang. Formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, their members included multi-instrumentalist Kevin Bell (younger brother of Ronald "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang), bassist Michael Cheek, drummer Callie "Poppa Funk" Cheek, percussionist Wilson "Marty" Becket and keyboardist Kevin "Ice" Lassiter. The horn section was comprised on Peter Duarte, Dennis "Dee" White, and Ray "Savoir Fair" Wright.

Their first two LPs were dominated by the influence of their mentors, particularly on compositions like "You've Got to Keep On Bumpin'," "Masterplan" and "You Can Be A Star." Success was immediate, with appearances on Soul Train and their "Hustle Wit' Every Muscle" being selected as the theme song for the short-lived television show Party.

In time, the Kay Gees grew out of Kool and the Gang's shadow, switching to a disco-influenced fast funk style that proved very popular in clubs. During the latter stages of their career, they blessed dancefloors with classic jams such as "Find A Friend," "Tango Hustle," "Watiting At The Bus Stop," and "Cheek To Cheek," many of which were issued as 12 inch singles.

Kay Gee's Deepest Grooves

Keep on Bumpin' & Masterplan (Gang, 1974)
Overwhelmingly Kool and the Gang-influenced release that boasts the famous "Who's The Man With The Masterplan" sample that was popularized in the late 80s. Ronald Bell is all over this LP as writer and producer. Crucial for fans of hard and heavy horn-based funk.

Burn Me Up (Gang, 1975)

Find a Friend (Gang, 1976)
Beginning to develop a unique sound on this album. Ronald Bell is still involved with the band, but "STP," "Waiting At The Bus Stop" and "Find A Friend" embrace the disco lights more readily than anything they'd previously recorded.

Kilowatt (De-Lite, 1978)
Their final statement is an all out disco-funk affair that is executed with precision. "Kilowatt," "Space Disco," "Cheek to Cheek," and "Tango Hustle" are the crucial cuts, but don't forget "Kay Gee's Theme Song" or "Fat Daddy."

Greatest Hits (Unidisc, 1994)
This retrospective package arrived out of the blue, considering none of their material had been available since the late 70s. Focuses heavily on the first LP, but includes songs from all their recordings.

Essential Dancefloor Artists (Deep Beats, 1995)
Not sure if this is still in print, but it's a more well-rounded compilation than the Unidisc, focusing more on the late 70s cuts than the Kool clones of their early records.