Iconic '60s Musician Dies in Car Accident
Michael Sumler, a longtime member of the influential R&B group Kool & the Gang has been reportedly killed in a car crash this past Saturday, as reported by Newsweek. According to the publication, the musician was 71-years-old.
More popularly known under the jazzy moniker "Chicago Mike," Sumler was best known for appearing as an integral member of Kool & the Gang from 1985 onwards. Initially, Sumler had been brought into the group to serve as a stylist and choreographer, before eventually playing openers for the band and, ultimately, providing backup vocals.
Over the weekend, Sumler was driving in Atlanta, Georgia's Veterans Memorial Highway when he struck another car near Buckner Road. As per local outlets, the musician died at the scene of the accident.
Various personalities within the music world have offered their sympathies for Sumler's family, commemorating the funk musician's achievements in the annals of R&B musical history.
Sumler's friend, Song Source Music Group's Adrian Meeks, offered his sentiments, telling Fox 5 Atlanta that Sumler was "always jovial, always just kind, always wanting to make sure everybody else around him was good."
Similarly, the '60s funk band Con Funk Shun wrote on X, "We had no idea that Sunday night's Love's Train would be your last," of Sumler's passing. "Rest in heavenly peace."
Originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, Kool & the Gang has often described as one of the most revolutionary music groups within either the R&B, soul, funk or disco genres. Initially breaking through in the industry with hit singles like "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging," the band eventually rose to new heights with the release of their albums Ladies' Night in 1979 and Celebrate! and Emergency in the early 1980s.
In addition to winning two Grammy Awards throughout their tenure together, they've also earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 and an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Iconic '60s Musician Dies in Car Accident first appeared on Parade on May 28, 2025
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