Kool & The Gang enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

One soul music's most iconic acts - Kool and The Gang - have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Around five to seven performers are inducted into the prestigious museum in the US state of Ohio each year. To be eligible, they need to have released their first commercial music at least 25 years before they're nominated.

The announcement was made on Sunday evening (21st April 2024):

Congratulations to the #RockHall2024 Inductee Class for achieving Music's Highest Honor! 🤘 Learn more about this year's Inductees here: https://t.co/6X9ozk4jQ1 pic.twitter.com/nIEja6t5ZT

— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) April 22, 2024

The Hall of Fame describes Kool and The Gang as "essential innovators of funk, soul, disco and R&B, creating rock and roll’s most danceable anthems". They're also one of the most sampled bands of all time, laying the foundation for music created by hip-hop acts including Tupac and Jay-Z, and have inspired countless contemporary soul acts including Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

Another Total Soul favourite - Dionne Warwick - received a Musical Excellence award. The Hall of Fame said her "innovation in song interpretation, combined with a seemingly flawless ability to stay relevant, have made her a mainstay in popular music history".

Read more about all this year's Hall of Fame inductees here.