Kool & the Gang’s Michael Sumler dies in car crash at 71
By Nika Shakhnazarova
Michael Sumler, a member of the iconic R&B band Kool & the Gang, tragically died at the age of 71 in a car accident.
The Grammy-winning band confirmed the news of Sumler’s death on Thursday.
“We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler,” the band told The Post in a statement. “Mike worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2004-2015, making sure the guys looked their best onstage every night.”
Michael Sumler, member of the legendary R&B band Kool & the Gang, who passed away in a car accident at the age of 71.
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Michael Sumler, a member of the iconic R&B band Kool & the Gang, tragically died at the age of 71 in a car accident.
FOX 5
After starting out as a stylist for the band, Sumler soon became involved in providing background vocals and joining the group onstage.
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“He also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show. Most recently, Mike helped Kool with LeKool champagne events,” they went on.
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“Everyone here at Kool & the Gang has fond memories of Mike and will miss him. May he rest in peace.”
Sumler, who was lovingly nicknamed “Chicago Mike,” died in a car crash in Cobb County, Ga., over Memorial Day weekend. The 33-year-old driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
Sumlar died on the scene after the vehicle he was driving had collided with another car on May 25, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.
Kool & The Gang performing their hit song Celebration on stage at The Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort on New Year's Eve, 2005
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The Grammy-winning band confirmed news of Sumler’s death, revealing that he had worked with them from 2000 to 2015.
Getty Images
Following his death, Mableton mayor Michael Owens paid a heartfelt tribute.
“This Memorial Day weekend the world lost a music legend,” he said in a statement. “Michael Sumler, known as ‘Chicago Mike’ of Kool and the Gang, died in a crash Sunday night on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road. He was 71.”
“The City of Mableton, City Council and I join his friends, family and fans in mourning his loss,” Owens added.
Sumler joined the band after an introduction from a member of the group’s security team.
1970s portrait of R&B group Kool & the Gang at Kriegsmann studios, featuring members Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, and others
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Some of the band’s biggest hits to date include “Get Down on It,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Funky Stuff,” “Ladies’ Night” and “Celebration.”
Getty Images
“I had a local band out of Chicago called Power Pac,” Sumler told the Kelly Talk Show in 2018. “One of the Kool and the Gang security guys caught our act in the club in Chicago and we became friends, and he decided… he said, ‘Hey, you’d like to meet my group?’ And I said ‘Sure.'”
After starting out as a stylist-choreographer for the group, his future in the band seemed bright.
“Once they saw that I could do some other things, they said we need to have you onstage,” he said.
Sumler began his role in the band with the opening dance number and soon transitioned into providing background vocals.
“So I started off doing moves on the stage, and so that was the opening for the band. And then they said, ‘Well we need you a little more,'” he said. “So I started coming on doing background singing and just working the whole show… just creating even more moves for the band.”
Some of the band’s biggest hits to date include “Get Down on It,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Funky Stuff,” “Ladies’ Night” and “Celebration.”
Kool and the Gang band members, including James J.T. Taylor and Ronald Bell, performing on stage in 1985
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During its glittering career, the band won two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards.
United Archives via Getty Images
In 2015, the band was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Nine years later, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Additionally, they won two Grammys and seven American Music Awards.
Robert “Kool” Bell remains the only surviving member of the band.
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