Michael Sumler, Beloved Member of Kool & the Gang, Dies in Car Accident at 71

Michael Sumler, a longtime member of the legendary band Kool & the Gang has died at age 71. Sumler died in a two-car accident in Cobb County, Georgia on May 24, Fox5 Atlanta reported. Sumler had the nickname “Chicago Mike” during his many years with the R&B funk band.

Adrian Meeks of Song Source Music Group told the Atlanta news outlet that Sumler’s death was “a devastating blow.” “It’s like, no, no, not Mike,” he said. “He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he’d been around most of all of his life.