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Kool & the Gang’s Michael Sumler dies in car crash at 71

BBG News

71-year-old Michael Sumler, known for his work with legendary soul-funk band Kool & the Gang, passed away on Sunday following a car accident in Georgia. In addition to performing as an onstage motivator and a stylist behind the scenes, he played significant roles within the group.

The band’s representative announced that Sumler had passed away, following a car accident on Veterans Memorial Highway in Georgia’s Cobb County. As reported by 11Alive, Atlanta’s local TV station, Chicago Mike (Sumler) was the unfortunate victim of a collision with another vehicle. Earlier, he had performed with the band Con Funk Shun in Mableton, Ga., and Michael Cooper from the same group expressed condolences for Sumler on social media.

Cooper penned, “We didn’t know that the Love’s Train on Sunday night would be your final journey.” He added, “May you find eternal peace.

In their declaration, Kool & the Gang referred to Sumler as “our trusted backstage attendant who took care of our wardrobe for over a decade.” He was part of the band from 2000 to 2015, ensuring that the members were well-dressed and sharp on stage night after night. Furthermore, Sumler was known to energize the audience with his lively dance moves at the start of each show.

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Originating from Jersey City, N.J., in the mid-1960s, Kool & the Gang – a band renowned for hits such as “Ladies Night,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Get Down on It,” and “Celebration” – was founded by brothers Robert Bell (known as Kool) and Ronald Khalis Bell, along with their local friends. Tragically, Khalis Bell passed away in 2020, and George “Funky” Brown, the original drummer, followed suit in 2023. Last year, this iconic group was honored by being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, recognized as the most sampled group in hip-hop history.

Among the numerous tunes that have drawn inspiration from Kool & the Gang’s music, I find myself particularly captivated by Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind,” Mase’s “Feel So Good,” Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “Method Man” and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime.” These tracks, in their unique ways, carry forward the rhythmic legacy of Kool & the Gang.

2021 marked the occasion when Kool & the Gang made history by being the initial act to play for a sold-out audience at the Hollywood Bowl since it had to close for an extended period due to the unparalleled restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information on Sumler’s survivors wasn’t immediately available.

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2025-05-29 21:31

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