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By Shane Croucher and Marni Rose McFall
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Kool & the Gang's Michael Sumler was killed in a car crash just outside Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, local media reported.
Also known as "Chicago Mike," the 71-year-old died at the scene just before midnight on Veterans Memorial Highway, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
American funk, soul and R&B band Kool & the Gang formed in New Jersey in 1964, and enjoyed huge hits like "Ladies' Night," "Get Down on It," "Celebration" and "Jungle Boogie."
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Sumler joined the group in 1985. He had first been brought into the group as a stylist and choreographer. He later played a role opening up the shows, energizing the crowd and connecting with fans, as well as doing backing vocals.
What We Know
Sumler was behind the wheel when his car collided with another near Buckner Road. He died at the scene.
The music world has shared their condolences for the musician, who was still involved in the scene, and was known for mentoring other musicians.
Musical group Confunkshun shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, in memory of Sumler. "We had no idea that Sunday night's Love's Train would be your last," the post read. "Rest in heavenly peace."
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"It was a devastating blow," Sumler's friend Adrian Meeks of Song Source Music Group told Fox 5 Atlanta. "It's like, no, no, not Mike."
Meeks added that Sumler was "always jovial, always just kind, always wanting to make sure everybody else around him was good."
Speaking on the Kelly Talk Show in 2018, Sumler explained how he got involved in the group. "I had a local band out of Chicago called Power Pac," he said. "One of the Kool and the Gang security guys caught our act in the club in Chicago."
Sumler was then introduced to the group, and "Started out as a stylist choreographer. Because he introduced me as that. But once they saw that I could do some other things, they said, we need to have you on stage."
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"To go oversees, even now," he said "The band is still celebrated. We can go over there and do festivals with 200,000 people."
The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, and they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.
Their discography includes 23 studio albums. Founding member Robert "Kool" Bell continues to lead Kool & The Gang, performing and touring with a lineup of newer musicians.
What People Are Saying
Confunkshun, a musical group, in a post on X: "Confunkshun sends our deepest condolences to the family of our friend "Chicago Mike" from Kool & the Gang, stylist and dancer. Thank you Mike for always supporting Confunkshun."
Darren Leslie, a digital creator and friend of Sumler's, wrote in a post on Facebook "This one hits hard. I really appreciate all the calls. But yall, I can't even talk right now. Those of you who knew, you knew, this was my POTNAH!!!!!!!! So no, I am not alright."
Memorial arrangements are yet to be confirmed, with friends of Sumler's telling Fox News that they are waiting to hear from Sumler's family.
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