Latest news with #KoolAndTheGang
Fox News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Kool & the Gang's Michael Sumler dead at 71 after fatal car crash
Michael Sumler, a longtime member of the legendary R&B and funk band Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 71. Sumler, who originally worked as the band's wardrobe valet before joining the group as a backing vocalist and onstage performer, was involved in a fatal car crash in Mableton, Georgia, on May 25 and died at the scene, according to the Cobb County Police Department. He was pronounced dead by the Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office, Fox News Digital has learned. The fatal collision occurred on Veterans Memorial Highway west of Buckner Road. Police reported the car crash took place at approximately 11:35 PM. Sumler collided with a 33-year-old driver named Khary Weaver, police stated in a press release. Weaver was not injured in the collision. The car crash remains under investigation, police said. WATCH: KOOL & THE GANG'S ROBERT 'KOOL' BELL RECALLS PERFORMING WITH ELTON JOHN, VAN HALEN AND KID ROCK Kool & the Gang's rep shared a heartfelt tribute with Fox News Digital on Sumler's death. "We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler. Mike worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000-2015, making sure the guys looked their best on stage every night. He also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show," the statement read. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"Most recently, Mike helped Kool with LeKool champagne events. Everyone here at Kool & the Gang has fond memories of Mike and will miss him. May he rest in peace." Sumler's death comes one year after the iconic R&B, funk and soul band, known for hits like "Celebration" and "Jungle Boogie," celebrated their 60th anniversary. In March 2024, Kool & the Gang's Robert "Kool" Bell marveled at how the group continues to tour and create new music after six decades. "It's been a blessing this year as we celebrated 60 years [since] our first record came out," Bell said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "The band started as a jazz band in 1964. And, of course, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames." Kool & the Gang was founded by Bell, his brother Ronald Bell and their New Jersey high school friends Ricky Westfield, George Brown, Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas and Charles Smith, all of whom comprised the band's original lineup. The group started as a jazz and soul band called the Jazziacs but later went through several name changes, including The Soul Town Band and Kool & the Flames. After settling on the moniker Kool & the Gang, the band landed a recording deal with Redd's independent label De-Lite Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1970. Kool & the Gang has released 25 studio albums to date, with their latest being 2021's "Perfect Union." The band has won two Grammy Awards and has sold over 70 million albums worldwide.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Sky News
Kool & the Gang's Michael Sumler dies in car crash
Michael Sumler, a long-time member of Kool & the Gang, has died in a car crash. Michael Owens, the mayor of Mableton, north of Atlanta, said in a Facebook post: "This Memorial Day weekend the world lost a music legend. 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." He added: "The city of Mableton, City Council and I join his friends, family and fans in mourning his loss." According to local news outlet the Cobb County Courier, the musician's car was involved in a collision with another vehicle. Sumler died at the scene. In a post on Facebook, the band said: "We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler. "Mike worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000-2015, making sure the guys looked their best on stage every night. "He also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show." They added: "Everyone here at Kool & the Gang has fond memories of Mike and will miss him. May he rest in peace." Sumler was widely described as a backing vocalist for the pop veterans, who formed in New Jersey in the 1960s and rose to worldwide fame in the following two decades. Adrian Meeks, Sumler's friend, told Fox 5 Atlanta his death came as "a devastating blow" to all those who knew him. He said Sumler "always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he'd been around most all of his life". Kool & the Gang have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, rock, and pop music since releasing their first album in 1969. They have won numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, and have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kool & The Gang's Michael Sumler killed in horror crash at the age of 71
Kool & The Gang's Michael Sumler has reportedly died at the age of 71 after getting into a car crash over the weekend. Sumler passed away in Cobb County, Georgia, after the vehicle he was driving in collided with another car, according to Fox 5. The crash occurred right before midnight on Saturday on Veterans Memorial Highway, close to Buckner Road. He reportedly died at the scene. has contacted representatives for Kool & The Gang for comment. The mayor of Mableton, Michael Owens, praised Sumler - who is also known as ' Chicago Mike' - in a statement released following his death. He said: 'We are saddened by the death of musician Michael Sumler. 'Chicago Mike' contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities. 'His style and energy added flare and excitement to Kool and the Gang for decades. The city of Mableton, council members and I join his family, friends and fans in mourning his loss.' Kool & The Gang formed in 1964 in Jersey City, New Jersey, and by 1969, the group had their self-titled first album. Some of their top songs were Ladies Night, Too Hot, Jungle Boogie, Celebration and Cherish. A longtime member of the band, Sumler joined Kool & The Gang in 1985 after getting introduced by a member of the group's security team. He told the Kelly Talk Show in 2018: 'I had a local band out of Chicago called Power Pac. 'One of the Kool & 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".' Sumler then travelled to Minneapolis to meet with the band at Prince's soundstage before joining the group as a stylist choreographer. He said: 'I 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.' His role with the band evolved from opening for the group by dancing to Kool & The Gang music with a boombox on his shoulder before he did background singing. He said: '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". 'So I started coming on doing background singing and just working the whole show... just creating even more moves for the band.' Kool & The Gang has had many members join its ranks ever since it first began, but it was originally founded by seven musicians, the majority of whom are now deceased. The group was launched by brothers Robert 'Kool' Bell (bass) and Ronald Bell (keyboards), Dennis Thomas (saxophone), Robert Mickens (Trumpet), Ricky West (keyboards), George Brown (drummer), and Charles Smith (guitarist). Robert 'Kool' Bell is the only surviving founding member of the band left. 'I know they're looking down and having a happy time also, so I'm thankful that we finally got in,' Robert told last year of his late bandmates ahead of the group's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
R&B legend, singer for legendary band killed in car crash
Michael Sumler, a singer for the American band Kool & the Gang, has died aged 71 after a horror car crash. Tributes are pouring in for the band's beloved hype-man, known as 'Chicago Mike', as he is remembered for always being the 'life of the party'. Sumler died after a car crash just outside Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday night. The soul icon was driving a black Nissan when it collided with another car. He was pronounced dead shortly after the initial crash, Cobb County Police Department said. The 33-year-old driver of the other car was not injured in the crash. Sumler was known for being a fun and insightful music industry mogul who featured as a backing vocalist for the legendary Kool & the Gang for over three decades. Sumler's friend, Adrian Meeks, told Fox 5 Atlanta his death came as 'a devastating blow' for all those who knew him. Sumler first joined the iconic band in 1985 and would go on to mentor several young musicians as part of the group. His friend added: 'He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he'd been around most of all of his life.' Robert 'Kool' Bell, the band's founding bassist and the last surviving original member of the group, said: 'It's a bittersweet feeling. We've lost another brother, and the stage won't be the same without Mike.' Kool & the Gang were formed in 1969 and had an illustrious career, winning two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. The popular band were the longest performing R&B group in history. The group's first major breakthrough came in 1973 with the release of the album Wild and Peaceful, which featured the iconic hit single Funky Stuff. The addition of lead vocalist Taylor and producer Eumir Deodato propelled the band to new heights, leading to their all-time classic hit Celebration in 1980 — now a staple at parties worldwide. Kool & the Gang would later be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. And in 2015, the band was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sumler is just the latest member of the group to pass away after The Gang's drummer George Brown most recently passed away in 2023 after a battle with cancer. The iconic group are set to headline the UK festival Boogietown in July alongside UB40 and Billy Ocean.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Michael Sumler dead at 71: Kool & the Gang singer & hype-man killed in car crash as tributes paid to ‘life of the party'
MICHAEL Sumler, known as the hypeman for Kool & the Gang, has died aged 71 following a horror crash, as tributes pour in for the "life of the party". Also known as "Chicago Mike", the singer has died following a car crash just outside Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday night. 2 2 The soul icon was driving the vehicle before it collided with another car near Buckner Road. Chicago Mike was a music industry mogul who featured as a backing vocalist for the legendary Kool & the Gang. Sumler's friend, Adrian Meeks, told Fox 5 Atlanta: 'It was a devastating blow, "It's like no, no, no, not Mike." Sumler first joined the iconic band in 1985
