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Michael Sumler, who worked as a hype man alongside the radio legend Kool & The Gang and was known as “Chicago Mike”, died on Sunday in a car accident in Georgia. He was 71 years old.
Death by car accident in Georgia
The local television station 11Alive from Atlanta reportedThat Sumler was traveling in Cobb County on the Veterans Memorial Highway when he collided with another vehicle. The band confirmed Sumler’s death in one Explanation on social media.
“We are deeply sad about the death of our long -time master of wardrobe Mike Sumler,” wrote Kool & The Gang. “Mike worked with Kool & The Gang from 2000 to 2015. He made sure that the boys looked good every evening on stage. He also heated the audience at the shows with his energy and dance movements.”
Present with con radio shun on the evening of his death
Sumler performed in Mableton on Sunday evening with the group Con Funk Shun, whose front man Sumler the honor proved. “Thank you, Mike, that you always supported con radio shun,” said singer Michael Cooper. “We had no idea that the Love’s Train would be your last trip on Sunday evening. Quiet in peace.”
Last year after they were nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for three decades, Kool & The Gang became a ceremony in Cleveland recorded. For the band it was a bittersweet recognition. Your three founding members – Brown,, Dennis “Dee Tea” Thomas and Ronald Bell – had all died in the three years before.
As a sumler 2018 in the Georgia Kelly Talk Show Occurred, he remembered how he came to the group in 1985. “I had a local band from Chicago called Power Pac,” he said. “One of the security guards from Kool & The Gang saw us in a club in Chicago. And we became friends.”
From stylist to the show participant
Sumler said that they traveled to Minneapolis to meet the band. And that he was introduced as a stylist and choreographer, the group quickly “realized that I could do other things”. And “said we need you on stage”. He said that he first appeared as a hype man for the band, later started as a background singer and finally participated in the entire show.
Since its foundation in 1964, Kool & The Gang with two Grammy Awards, Seven American Music Awards, a Bet Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have been honored. Her unforgettable hits include “Ladies Night”, “Jungle Boogie”, “Get Down on It” and “Celebration”.
Kool & The Gang: A music legend
In his Introductory speech for Kool & The Gang Chuck D from Public Enemy recognized the profound and sustainable influence of the group on the music. “Let everyone know. This honor is long overdue. You all know how it works. Birthdays, weddings, sports, championships,” said Chuck. “And when they wrote the song ‘Celebration’, the band is said to have said: ‘We don’t know anything. We just celebrate and praise God.’ And here we are celebrating.