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Separated At Birth
10. TV-Radio/Music (Donnie Simpson/J.T. Taylor)
Donnie Simpson
J.T. Taylor
Popular, easy-going radio and TV music show host Donnie Simpson and smooth-singing J.T. Taylor of Kool &The Gang. Gotta give props to Donnie. Whereas most televison 'personalities' wear on my nerves pretty quickly and have me reaching for the remote. Donnie was likeable and entertaining enough that I did not do so. I know J.T. was a big part of Kool's huge resurgence in the '80s but as good as he was, their new sound didn't do much for me. When I need to get down the funkateer in me makes me pull out the old '70s stuff and not reach for the later stuff. The older tunes (Jungle Boogie/Soul Vibrations/Rated X/Good Times/Higher Plane/Funky Man--all pre-J.T.'s arrival) are the ones that go right to my gut. I realize they had to evolve and get smoother to stay relevant in the marketplace in the post-disco era much like the Isleys and the Commodores etc. did, but I never softened up and remain committed to the deep funk. So hey, to each his own.