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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, Kool & the Gang’s longtime wardrobe valet and an onstage crowd energizer, died at 71 after a two-car crash near Mableton, Georgia, on May 25, 2025. Police later corrected an early account of how the vehicles came together; the available reporting does not establish legal fault.
Who was Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler?
Sumler was known as “Chicago Mike.” Kool & the Gang described him as its longtime wardrobe valet and said he also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show. The band’s statement, quoted by the Los Angeles Times, said he worked with the group from 2000 to 2015.
A separate account from the Chicago Sun-Times, drawing on family accounts and an online interview with Sumler, traces his association with the band to the 1980s and says he began traveling with it in 1985. These accounts give different timelines; they may refer to different kinds or periods of work, and should not be treated as interchangeable.
How did Michael Sumler die?
Sumler died following a car crash at about 11:35 p.m. on May 25, 2025, on Veterans Memorial Highway west of Buckner Road, near Mableton in Cobb County, Georgia. He was 71, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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Police later corrected the initial lane account
A preliminary police account reproduced by the Cobb County Courier said Sumler’s black Nissan 370Z was traveling west, a black Kia Sorento was traveling east, and the Nissan entered the eastbound lanes before the vehicles collided head-on.
That was not the later account reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In a May 30, 2025 update, the newspaper said police corrected their earlier description and reported that the other vehicle had entered Sumler’s lane. The AJC said the other driver was uninjured and no charges had been filed as of that update. The reporting cited here does not establish a final determination of responsibility.
Rank #2
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What did Kool & the Gang say?
The band expressed sadness at Sumler’s death, calling him its “longtime wardrobe valet.” It also said he “hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show.” The statement was quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
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- Vinyl records theme garlands: 8 pieces of vinyl record-themed hanging garlands perfect for music-themed party decorations and wall displays
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![Same (1985, US) / Vinyl Record [Vinyl-LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kL09xRTdL._SL160_.jpg)
- Record has been cleaned and new sleeved.
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Rank #3
- COLLECTION STARTER lots can be used for vintage decoration, as party items or unique gifts
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