Kool & The Gang Hype Man Michael Sumler Killed in a Tragic Car Accident

The Breakdown: Michael Sumler, the wardrobe stylist and hype man who supported Kool & The Gang, died in a car accident in Atlanta on May 25, 2025. Sumler began working with the Grammy-winning band in 1985.

Kool & The Gang have been getting audiences in the groove since 1969. With hits like “Celebration” and “Ladies Night,” the band continues to be a staple on dance floors and throwback party playlists.

But Kool & The Gang never hits harder than when they’re performing live. For 15 years, Michael Sumler had the important job of warming up concert audiences before the band took to the stage.

Sadly, the beloved hype man died in May in a tragic incident. Here’s everything we know about Michael Sumler’s car accident, plus a look at the legacy he’s left behind.

According to a Fox 5 Atlanta report, Michael Sumler was driving on Veterans Memorial Highway on the night of May 25, 2025, when his vehicle collided with another car. The other driver was uninjured, but Sumler unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene.

The cause of the accident has not been disclosed, and police have noted that the incident is still under investigation.

Nicknamed “Chicago Mike” for his childhood home in the Windy City’s South Side, Sumler left an indelible mark on his city, the music industry, and his family in his 71 years. Sumler is survived by two daughters, a son, seven grandkids, and seven great-grandchildren.

Sumler also left a lasting impression on Kool & The Gang, not just professionally, but personally. In their official statement, the band shared, “Everyone here at Kool & The Gang has fond memories of Mike and will miss him.” According to their message, Sumler had been the band’s “longtime wardrobe valet” who “also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show.”

Officially, Sumler worked and traveled with Kool & the gang from 2000-2015, but his story with the group began in 1985. At the time, Sumler, who was known for his dapper style, was part of another band called Power Pac. When a member of the Kool & The Gang security team introduced Sumler to the band, they took him on as a stylist. They soon discovered his musical talent and infectious energy and expanded his role to include hype man, background vocalist, and tambourine player.

The “Get Down On It” band has been a mainstay in the music industry for decades, continuously producing records and reinventing their sound over their career. Their musical genius has been celebrated with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015, and two Grammy Awards. They are also the most sampled group in hip-hop, influencing tracks like Nas’s “N.Y. State of Mind” and Luniz’s “I Got 5 On It.”

While Kool & The Gang has continued to thrive—celebrating their 60th anniversary and releasing a new album in 2023—they’ve also faced some losses. In addition to Sumler’s passing, the group mourned the death of founding member Kalis Bell in 2020 and original drummer George “Funky” Brown in 2023.