Too Hot: Kool & the Gang & Me

Brown, a founding member of the funk band Kool & the Gang, disappoints in his debut memoir. In the book’s most memorable sections, he recounts growing up in 1950s Jersey City, N.J., with a violent alcoholic father. Both his parents had lovely singing voices, though, and instilled in Brown a passion for music that led him to spend as much free time as possible practicing the drums. In 1964, he joined the band that would eventually become Kool & the Gang, and it’s from this point forward that the memoir stumbles. Fans looking for insights into the band’s creative process will be frustrated (regarding 1980’s “Celebration,” Brown notes only that it was inspired by “a few key lyrics from ‘Ladies’ Night’ combined with religious teachings from the Koran and references to celebrating when God created Adam”), while other aspects of his life and career—marital troubles, addiction—get only superficial treatment. Questionable generalizations (“One thing I learned is that most women do not handle rejection very well”) and platitudes (“I’ve learned that the awards can’t keep you company”) don’t improve matters. After a strong start, this one loses the beat. (July)