Laying the FOUNDATION for Music Education

By R.L. Witter

June is a month of many celebrations—Black Music Month, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, graduations, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. And present at each and every one of those celebrations are EVERYONE’S honorary cousins/uncles, Kool & The Gang! As we sip, chat, and chew, Robert “Kool” Bell and his bandmates continue to provide the soundtrack for our parties, leading off with the jam that gets everybody to the dance floor, “Celebration.”

This June, while we’re celebrating those events, Bell and the band are in Europe, doing what they do best, performing, bringing smiles to faces, and moving crowds to the rhythm. But what you might not yet know, is they are also preparing for a special July celebration that will not only bring smiles and move crowds, but move communities and children to embrace music and education through the Kool Kids Foundation.

I caught up with Bell while he was in London to talk about the foundation. “We’re here in London doing four shows,” Bell began. “We’re at the O2, Elton John just played his final show there the night before we played.” He quickly shifted from music superstar to family man and concerned citizen to speak about Kool Kids Foundation and their work in the community. “My wife, Sakinah, wanted to do something about putting music back into schools. She came up with this idea to help get music back into schools and help kids who want to get into the music business.” Sadly, Sakinah passed away in 2018, but Bell’s sons, Hakim and Muhammad, stepped up to honor their mother’s wishes and truly make the project a family affair.

Muhammad Bell and the Kool Kids
Foundation are committed to teaching
children music and the music business.
Here’s how the foundation works. “We
pick a school and contact the band
instructor and find out what they need,”
said Muhammad.

“My mom came up with it around 2010 or 2011,” said Muhammad Bell. “At that time many schools had a lot of cutbacks in the arts and music departments. She decided since that’s the field our family is in, we should go in and try to help those programs—keep them afloat and give opportunities to kids who wouldn’t have any other options. If they cut those programs, what are they going to do? The streets are out there; too much idle time for a kid spells trouble. When she passed, my dad, my brother Hakim, and I decided to step it up a notch and go full force with it,” Muhammad explained.

Of course, it takes money to provide instruments and instruction, so there are two upcoming fundraising events for the foundation this summer. The Day Party on Sunday, July 9, takes place at a private location disclosed upon purchase of tickets (www.koolkidsfoundation.org/). “People can expect to come out and have some good food and great entertainment,” explained Muhammad. “It’s hosted by my dad and Love & Hip-Hop Creator Mona Scott. A lot of the athletes and celebrities from the golf outing come and hang out.” In addition to celebrities, there will be sponsors from the local area. “There’ll be cigars from High End Cigars in Scotch Plains, NJ and there’ll be Le Kool champagne… For people who don’t play golf, they can come hang out here and have a great time.”

“My mom came up with it around 2010
or 2011,” said Muhammad Bell. “At that
time many schools had a lot of cutbacks
in the arts and music departments. She
decided since that’s the field our family
is in, we should go in and try to help
those programs.”

Two days later the 4th Annual Charity & Celebrity Golf Outing takes place on July 11 at Cedar Grove Country Club in Livingston, NJ. “We have Shabazz High School’s band playing at our golf event this year,” said Muhammad. “That’s going to be a theme going forward, to have the high school bands playing at our events, giving them exposure that way as well.”

Muhammad Bell and the Kool Kids Foundation are committed to teaching children music and the music business. Here’s how the foundation works. “We pick a school and contact the band instructor and find out what they need,” said Muhammad. “Last year we outfitted the whole Weequahic High School (Newark) band with new uniforms, donated instruments and books—to make sure they have what they need to continue to strive and thrive.”

But wait, there’s more! “Nowadays it’s all about computers, but what I try to instill in so many of these kids is computers are fine, but learn to read and write the music—the guys behind the scenes are making all the money,” Muhammad said. “We have a few things cooking! One is the Kool Kids Foundation School of Music. That will lean toward teach ing kids to read, write, play, engineer, and produce music. We’ll teach keyboards, drums, horns, the works. We haven’t found a location just yet, but it’s going to be big,” Muhammad teased. “We’re also planning to continue our influence on school bands with Kool Kids Foundation Presents… Battle of the Bands! We’re going to start that off with local high school bands from Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken, Plainfield, South Jersey—you name it. It’s going to be HUGE! It’s all in the works. It all benefits the kids and the schools. We’ll need sponsors once we bring it out, so be ready.”

In addition to his charitable work, Robert “Kool” Bell continues to tour and play the music loved by millions around the world. After the concerts at the O2, he and the band performed at the Margate and Cambridge festivals in England and even popped up for a performance in Tilburg, just outside of Amsterdam before heading to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Bell has no plans to slow down anytime soon. “We have a new album coming out in July, People Just Want to Have Fun and shows back in the States.”

Former US Congressman Edolphus Towns joins PHEN in the fight against prostate cancer

PHEN’s 2023 Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally: A prostate cancer crisis is hitting Black communities around...

Choose Healthy Life’s Service of Renewal and Healing

Union Baptist Church in Harlem Pastor Rev. Brian D. Scott hosted Choose Healthy Life’s (CHL)...

U.S. Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. shares his experience with losing a friend to prostate cancer

Session III: September 20, 2023 Enhancing Clinical Trial Awareness and Increasing Participation of Black Patients...

Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller joins PHEN in the fight against prostate cancer

PHEN’s 2023 Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally: Have you heard that Black men get diagnosed with...

Shavonda E. Sumter, State Representative for Patterson, NJ introduces PHEN

Shavonda E. Sumter, State Representative for Patterson, NJ introduces PHEN and shares her experience about...

First Corinthian Youth Sunday

Members and visitors packed the sanctuary of Harlem’s First Corinthian Baptist Church for Youth Sunday. Youth Pastor Rev. Tre Walrond...
Read More

Newark’s Gospel Music Month Kick-Off Celebration

For 38 years, Gospel Music Month has been celebrated in Newark, NJ, the state’s Gospel Capital. Dr. Albert Lewis proposed...
Read More

Gospel in the City

Sounds of praise and joy were in the air at the East Orange Campus High School on June 10. Mayor...
Read More

I Remember Harlem By Percy E. Sutton

By Percy E. Sutton (1920-2009) Chairman of the Executive Board Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce I remember the so-called “Harlem...
Read More

NTAC Gala 2023

Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic (NTAC) Founder and CEO Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah welcomed guests to the organization’s White Party...
Read More

More than 4,500 Volunteers Packed 1.5 Million Meals For New Yorkers In Need in Observance of 9/11 Day

September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance 22 years after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the 9/11 anniversary...
Read More

Honoring Newark Heroes: Wayne Brooks Jr. and Augusto Acabou

By Steve Walkers To their families and coworkers they were know as “Bear” and ” Augie.” We know them as...
Read More

I Remember Harlem

by Voza Rivers I grew up on West 132nd Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues. My street, during the ’40s...
Read More

Jim Harding’s Never Ending Service to the Community

By Jean Nash Wells Called out of retirement, Jim Harding, now the Assistant Fire Commissioner and Senior Advisor of External...
Read More

Newark Students Develop Workforce Skills during Summer Youth Employment Program, Hosted by Berkeley College

Students practice CPR during the Newark Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) on July 26, 2023. This summer, nearly 300 Newark residents...

Berkeley College Announces Opportunity Grant for Qualified New Jersey Residents to Earn a Degree Debt-Free

Qualified New Jersey residents can enroll in a full-time Associate’s degree program without incurring any loans for tuition and fees...

Berkeley College Appoints Patricia Greer, JD, as Provost

Share the News: @BerkeleyCollege #NewsBerkeley   Berkeley College has named Patricia “Patty” Bennett Greer, JD, as Provost, effective August 7, 2023...

Jobs, Wages and Education

In the summer of 1963, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial facing our nation’s Capitol...

Kool and the Gang co-founder donates thousands to NJ schools for music education

A co-founder of one of the most successful music groups to come out of New Jersey is helping the next...

Kean University President Repollet Attends White House’s National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., today joined U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, key members of the Biden-Harris...

DV Connector Network Presents – Precious Williams – The Killer Pitch Master

Securing Our Legacy Through UJAMAA DV Connector Network Series Hear from our Special Guest… Precious...

New Jersey Reparations Council Announced

On June 19, 2023, the second anniversary of our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, celebrations marked...

AACCNJ’s First Juneteenth Black Business Expo

Black-owned businesses connected with private and public companies at the well-attended, inaugural Black Business Expo...

On Harlem, Business, and the Economics of Culture: Brothers Gonna’ Work it Out

“The ability to augment the profit motive with a service motive is a positive, life-affirming...

Summer in and out of the City

BY R.L. WITTER My husband at the wheel, the road stretches in front of me...

Why the Habit of Saving is Key to Becoming Financially Healthier

Savings is a foundational piece to financial health since research has found that unexpected expenses...