Michael Sumler, a member of the iconic R&B Kool & The Gang group, died tragically at the age of 71 in a car accident.
The Grammy Awards winning group confirmed the news of Sumler on Thursday.
“We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of our long-standing wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler,” the group told the post in a statement. “Mike worked alongside Kool & The Gang from 2004 to 2015, making sure that guys were their best on stage every night.”
After starting as a stylist for the group, Sumler quickly got involved in the supply of background voice and joining the group on stage.
“He also excited the crowd with his energy and dance movements at the top of the show. More recently, Mike helped Kool with lekool champagne tests,” they continued.
“Everyone here in Kool & The Gang has good memories of Mike and he will miss it. That it rests in peace. “
Sumler, who was nicknamed with love “Chicago Mike”, died in a car accident in Cobb County, Georgia, during the 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 collided with another car on May 25, Fox 5 Atlanta Reports.
After his death, the mayor of Mableton, Michael Owens, paid a sincere tribute.
“This Memorial Day weekend, the world has lost a music legend,” he said in a statement. “Michael Sumler, known as” Chicago Mike “by Kool and Gang, died in an accident on Sunday evening on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road. He was 71 years old. “
“The city of Mableton, the municipal council and I join his friends, family and fans to cry her loss,” added Owens.
Sumler joined the group after an introduction of a member of the group’s security team.
“I had a local chicago group called Power Pac,” said Sumler Kelly’s talk show In 2018. “One of Kool’s guys and gangs caught our act in the Chicago club and we became friends, and he decided … He said:” Hey, would you like to meet my group? “And I said” of course “.
After starting as a stylist-choreographer for the group, his future in the group seemed brilliant.
“Once they saw that I could do other things, they said we must have you on stage,” he said.
Sumler began his role in the group with the opening dance number and quickly happened to the supply of background voice.
“So I started to make movements on stage, so it was the opening of the group. And then they said:” Well, we need you a little more “,” he said. “So I started to do background song and work on the whole show … just by creating even more movements for the group.”
Some of the group’s greatest successes to date include “Get Down on it”, “Jungle Boogie”, “Funky Stuff”, “Ladies’ Night” and “Celebration”.
In 2015, the group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Nine years later, they were inducted at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In addition, they won two grammys and seven American music awards.
Robert “Kool” Bell remains the only surviving member of the group.