Kool & The Gang and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are a match made in heaven. They are the longest-running R&B group in history. The parade is a cornerstone of the Thanksgiving celebration for countless Americans. So, their performance atop the Bronx Zoo’s Wonderous World of Wildlife float was the perfect combination of tradition and nostalgia.
Kool & The Gang are no strangers to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They made their parade debut in 1981. That year, they appeared atop the Lunar Moth float and performed “Celebration” and “Take My Heart” for the cheering crowd. Nearly two decades later, in 1999, they returned to the parade on the Jell-O World of Wiggle float. They once again delivered a memorable performance of “Celebration.” Then, in 2003, the legendary group came back, riding the Animal Planet Amazing Creatures of the Wild float. Fittingly, they performed “Jungle Boogie.”
Videos by American Songwriter
This year, they stayed with the wildlife theme, gracing the Bronx Zoo float for a performance of “Celebration.”
Kool & The Gang’s Biggest Hit Is Deeper Than You Think
Kool & The Gang wrote “Celebration” and released it as a single from Celebrate in October 1980. In February 1981, the song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for two weeks. It was their first and only song to reach the top of the all-genre chart.
“Celebration” is seemingly fit for any kind of joyous gathering. However, many may not realize that it has a much deeper and more spiritual meaning. According to Songfacts, saxophonist Ronald Bell, whose Muslim name is Khalis Bayyan, got the idea for the song while reading the Quran. “I was reading the passage where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises,” he recalled. “That inspired me to write the basic chords and the line Everyone around the world, come on, let’s celebrate.”
Featured Image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 02: Ella Langley performs during Stars for Second Harvest with ERNEST & Friends at the Ryman Auditorium on June 02, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) -
Photo by Dingena Mol / ANP / AFP via Getty Images -
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 12: Singer Barry Manilow performs onstage during the "Manilow: The Last Seattle Concert" at Climate Pledge Arena on July 12, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images) -
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 16: Glenn Hughes performs Classic Deep Purple Live at La Riviera on May 16, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Javier Bragado/Redferns) -
THE VOICE — "The Playoffs Premiere" Episode 2815 — Pictured: Carson Daly — (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC via Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 23: Shania Twain performs a special one-night-only performance for SiriusXM to launch exclusive channel at Racket NYC on July 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM) -
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 10: Lainey Wilson performs during the Windy City Smokeout on July 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 29: (L-R) Bruce Watson and Luis Maldonado of Foreigner perform onstage during The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis 39th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on September 29, 2025 at the New York Hilton Midtown raised millions of dollars to support the pioneering work of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and the world’s premier research center targeting spinal cord and brain injury and other neurological disorders and diseases. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis)