When J.T. Taylor joined Kool & the Gang, it was a step up from his former job as an amateur nightclub singer from New Jersey. Together, they released the album Ladies' Night. Taylor's creamy voice gave the album popularity, the singles "Too Hot" and "Ladies' Night" reaching gold and platinum status. Starting with Ladies' Night, the group's next four albums went platinum and gold. The group's next album, Celebrate, became one of the biggest hits of their career. J.T. Taylor left the band amicably in 1988 with plans to make a solo album. (The gang then replaced Taylor with singers/instrumentalists Sonnie Martin and Odeen Mays, Jr..) They released two studio albums, Sweat and Unite. Taylor released three solo albums. There was big news in the summer of 1995, when Taylor returned to the band, and they released a new album, State of Affairs. The reunion tour with Kool and the Gang started in 1995 and ended in March 1999. In 2000, Taylor went solo once again and released A Brand New Me. Since then, J.T. Taylor has never stopped performing, and he continues to tour the world.