Michael Sumler, who worked alongside funk legends Kool & the Gang as their hype man and was known as “Chicago Mike,” died in a car crash on Sunday in Georgia. He was 71.
Local Atlanta television station 11Alive reported that Sumler was traveling on Veterans Memorial Highway in Cobb County when he collided with another vehicle. The group confirmed Sumler’s death in a statement shared to social media.
“We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler,” wrote Kool & the Gang. “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 show.”
Sumler had performed Sunday evening in Mableton with the group Con Funk Shun, whose frontman paid tribute to Sumler. “Thank you Mike for always supporting Con Funk Shun,” said singer Mike Cooper. “We had no idea that Sunday night’s Love’s Train would be your last ride. Rest in heavenly peace.”
Last year, after first being eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for three decades, Kool & the Gang was inducted at a ceremony in Cleveland. It was a bittersweet recognition for the band. Its three founding members – Brown, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, and Ronald Bell – had all died in the three years prior.
When appearing on the Georgia-based Kelly Talk Show in 2018, Sumler recalled how he joined the group in 1985. “I had a local band out of Chicago called Power Pac,” he said. “One of the Kool & the Gang security guys caught our act in the club in Chicago and we became friends.”
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Sumler said they traveled to meet the band Minneapolis, and that while he was introduced and started as a stylist-choreographer, the group quickly “saw that I could do some other things” and “said we need to have you onstage.” He said that after he started opening as a hype man for the band, he later joined on background vocals and worked the entire show.
Since their formation in 1964, Kool & The Gang have been honored with two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, and star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their inescapable hits include “Ladies Night,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Get Down on It,” and “Celebration.”
In his induction speech for Kool & the Gang, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, honored the group’s profound and lasting impact on music. “Let it be known: this is a long-overdue celebration. Y’all know the deal, birthdays, weddings, sports, championships,” said Chuck. “And when they created the song ‘Celebration,’ it was quoted that the band said, ‘We don’t know nothing. We just celebrate and Praise you God.’ So here we are, celebration, full circle, in the the OH 10, from Youngstown, right here to Cleveland.”
