Michael Sumler dead: Kool & The Gang star dies at 71 in horror car crash

Tributes have poured in for Kool & the Gang's hypeman who is remembered as the "life of the party". Michael Sumler, a member of Kool and The Gang, tragically died at the age of 71 following a car crash in Georgia's Cobb County over the weekend. The devastating news of the R&B star's death, known as "Chicago Mike," was reported by Fox 5 Atlanta. It is understood that Michael was involved in a car accident just before midnight on Saturday, May 24, when his vehicle collided with another on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road. Tragically, Michael was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Atlanta News First, the other driver involved in the collision escaped without injury. Mableton Mayor Michael Owens paid tribute to the late musician, who had recently performed at the city's Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre as part of the "Evening of Funk with Midnight Star | Confunkshun Rose Royce," prior to the fatal crash. In a heartfelt statement, Mayor Owens said: "We are saddened by the death of musician Michael Sumler. 'Chicago Mike' contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities. His style and energy added flare and excitement to Kool and the Gang for decades. The city of Mableton, council members and I join his family, friends and fans in mourning his loss," reports .

Tributes have been flooding in for the departed soul legend, with Adrian Meeks from Song Source Music Group telling Fox 5 Atlanta that Michael's passing is a "devastating blow".

The music mogul reminisced about how Michael was "always jovial, always just kind, always wanting to make sure everybody else around him was good."

He went on to praise Michael as a "great guy" who will "be dearly missed.

"He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he'd been around most of all of his life," Adrian said. "He was the bridge, you know, for inspiring artists and songwriters and producers and musicians to the legends."

Greg Williams from Switch Entertainment remembered Michael as the "was the hype guy out of the group, getting the audience going."

Greg also paid homage to the late 71 year old, saying he "was one of these people God put on a planet to teach people how to act because he was kind, he was thoughtful, he was intelligent, he was articulate and he was the life of the party".

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

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

Kool & the Gang were formed in 1969 and had an illustrious career, winning two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.

The popular band were the longest performing R&B group in history and are best known for hits including Get Down On It and Celebration.