Michael Sumler dead at 71: Kool & the Gang singer & hype-man killed in car crash as tributes paid to ‘life of the party’

MICHAEL Sumler, a singer for Kool & the Gang, has died aged 71 following a horror crash.

Tributes are pouring in for the band’s hype-man known as “Chicago Mike” and being remembered as the “life of the party”.

FacebookMichael Sumler, also known as “Chicago Mike” has died aged 71[/caption] RedfernsChicago Mike featured as a backing vocalist for the legendary Kool & the Gang[/caption]

Sumler died following a car crash just outside Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday night.

The soul icon was driving the vehicle before it collided with another car near Buckner Road.

The singer was a music industry mogul who featured as a backing vocalist for the legendary Kool & the Gang.

Sumler’s friend, Adrian Meeks, told Fox 5 Atlanta: “It was a devastating blow,

“It’s like no, no, no, not Mike.”

Sumler first joined the iconic band in 1985 and would go on to mentor several young musicians.

His friend added: “He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he’d been around most of all of his life.”

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