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Kool & the Gang to perform at County Fair
R&B group to Celebrate at July 15 Turlock stage show
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Kool & the Gang will be on stage Tuesday, July 15 for the Stanislaus County Fair. The group is probably best known for its upbeat hit Celebration played virtually around the world for victorious occasions. - photo by Contributed to the Courier

The Stanislaus County Fair has contracted with Kool & the Gang for a Tuesday, July 15 performance during the annual venue. They will be performing on the Bud Light Variety Free Stage at 8:30 p.m. The concert is free with the price of admission.

"Kool & the Gang brings back many nostalgic memories," said Adrenna Alkhas, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. "They have provided their fans with a variety of great hits and we can't wait to ‘celebrate' with them."

Kool & the Gang has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of three generations. Thanks to songs like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Open Sesame, they HAVE earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top 10 R&B hits, nine Top 10 Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums. Kool & the Gang has performed continuously for the past 43 years, longer than any R&B group in history. Their bulletproof funk and tough, jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled band of all time.

The band's stellar reputation grew with each album, but 1973's gold disc Wild & Peaceful took Kool & the Gang to another level (#6 R&B, #33 Pop), spurred by the immortal party anthems Funky Stuff, Hollywood Swinging and the platinum smash, Jungle Boogie. Hits like Higher Plane (#1 R&B), the classic Summer Madness (featured on the Grammy-winning movie soundtrack Rocky) and LPs Spirit of the Boogie, Love & Understanding and Open Sesame followed. The latter's title track was featured on the top-selling movie soundtrack of all time, Saturday Night Fever, earning the group their second Grammy. 2004's The Hits Reloaded found the band collaborating with Lil' Kim, Sean Paul, Ashanti, and Blackstreet, among others. Kool & the Gang continue to perform to packed audiences of new and old fans around the world.

The 2014 Stanislaus County Fair opens Friday, July 11 for a 10-day run. Fair guests can count on an award-winning experience that has been over 100 years in the making. Discounted Fair admission tickets, unlimited ride wristbands, and the Fair season pass are now on sale. Corporate ticket sales are also available to purchase at a highly discounted rate. Visit the Fair's website for upcoming ticket sale information at www.stancofair.com.