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Fox News
4 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.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kool & the Gang's Michael Sumler dies in car crash at 71
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 on stage every night.' 4 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. '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. '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 colluded with another car on May 25, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. 4 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. 4 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.' 4 During its glittering career, the band won two Grammy Awards and 7 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.
