George Brown (musician)

George Brown (January 15, 1949 – November 17, 2023), also known by the name George "Funky" Brown, was an American musician who was a founding member and the driving rhythmic force behind the funk, R&B, and soul band Kool & the Gang. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Brown co-founded the group in the mid-1960s alongside Robert “Kool” Bell, helping shape a sound that blended jazz roots with hard funk grooves and later crossover pop appeal.