Mike Sumler, hype man of the Grammy Award-winning group Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 71.
Sumler died in a automotive crash throughout Memorial Day weekend, in keeping with Fox 5 Atlanta. The R&B group confirmed his loss of life in a Wednesday submit on X.
“We’re deeply saddened to listen to in regards to the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler,” Kool & the Gang wrote. “Mike labored alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000-2015, ensuring the blokes seemed their greatest on stage each evening. He additionally hyped the group along with his power and dance strikes on the.”
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Sumler first crossed paths with the group in 1985 when he was performing along with his personal band, Energy Pac. He seemed again on the expertise of assembly Kool & the Gang in a 2018 interview with Kelly Discuss Present when he stated that “One of many Kool & the Gang safety guys caught our act within the membership in Chicago and we grew to become associates.”
He continued to journey with the group as their stylist-choreographer, however “as soon as they noticed that I might do another issues, they stated we have to have you ever onstage.” That’s when Sumler joined the “Get Down on It” hitmakers as their hype man; he went on to offer background vocals for his or her music.
Kool & the Gang has earned three Grammy nominations and one win in 1979 for album of the 12 months for his or her work on the Saturday Night time Fever soundtrack. They acquired a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame in 2015 and had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame final 12 months.
