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Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, a longtime member of Kool & the Gang’s touring circle, died at 71 after a car crash in Cobb County, Georgia, on May 25, 2025. He helped manage the band’s stage wardrobe and brought energy to audiences through dancing and crowd-hyping. Accounts differ on when his association with the group began: the band described work alongside it from 2000 to 2015, while a Chicago Sun-Times obituary reported that he began traveling with the group in 1985.
Who was Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler?
Sumler was born in Chicago on November 1, 1953, and grew up in the city’s Kenwood and Stateway Gardens neighborhoods, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He attended Bond Elementary School and Harper High School. His nickname reflected his Chicago background, though the available reporting does not identify who gave it to him.
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The Very Best of Kool & the Gang | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Best of Kool & The Gang (20th Century Masters) | $8.20 | Buy on Amazon |
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Kool and the Gang - Gold | $14.82 | Buy on Amazon |
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Celebration: The Best of Kool & the Gang 1979-1987 | $13.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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Greatest Hits | $12.59 | Buy on Amazon |
He was 71 when he died. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that he was survived by children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
What did Sumler do with Kool & the Gang?
The band called Sumler its “longtime wardrobe valet.” Its statement, quoted by the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Sun-Times, said he worked alongside the group from 2000 to 2015, keeping stage clothes in order and helping energize crowds with his dance moves.
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Other reporting also describes him singing backup and playing tambourine. His role combined practical backstage work with a visible presence during performances: he helped keep the musicians’ wardrobe ready and engaged audiences onstage.
When did his association with the band begin?
The published accounts give two time frames, and do not explain the difference. The band’s statement specifies that Sumler worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000 to 2015. The Chicago Sun-Times, recounting Sumler’s account of his earlier connection, said he met a member of the group’s security staff while performing with Chicago band Power Pac and began traveling with Kool & the Gang in 1985.
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These dates describe different reported aspects of his relationship with the group; the available sources do not establish why the band’s stated work period starts later than the reported beginning of his travels.
What is known about the crash?
Sumler died at the scene of a crash in Cobb County, Georgia, on May 25, 2025, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The other driver was not injured.
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The newspaper published a correction to its initial account of the collision: police first reported that Sumler’s vehicle entered another vehicle’s path, then corrected the account to say the other vehicle entered Sumler’s lane. The reporting cited here does not establish a cause of the crash or determine fault, so neither should be inferred.
How did people remember him?
Kool & the Gang’s statement, as quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times, said: “We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler.”
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Mableton Mayor Michael Owens told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Sumler “contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities,” adding that his style and energy brought excitement to the group. Friend Adrian Meeks, president of Song Source Music Group, told the paper: “Mike was just a great guy. Not just to the music industry, but personally.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was Sumler’s connection to Kool & the Gang’s legacy?
Sumler was part of the people and performance life surrounding the band, contributing through wardrobe work and onstage energy. Kool & the Gang’s official history records the group’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 19, 2024; that honor was for the group, not Sumler individually.
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