Michael Sumler, known to fans as “Chicago Mike,” died late Saturday night in a car crash on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road in Mableton. He was 71.
Sumler was a longtime member of Kool & The Gang, the legendary funk and R&B group. He was behind the wheel when his car collided with another vehicle just before midnight. Police say he died at the scene.
🎤 What We Know: Sumler spent more than three decades with Kool & The Gang, where he was known for energizing crowds and connecting with fans. He was celebrated for his ability to energize crowds and connect with fans, spending over three decades with the band. He was influential beyond the stage, actively mentoring younger musicians and fostering their success in the music industry.
Mableton Mayor Michael Owens issued a statement mourning Sumler’s death, saying, “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.”
🧠 Why It Matters: Sumler’s death marks the loss of a key figure in American music. His contributions to Kool & The Gang helped shape the sound of funk and R&B.
📅 What’s Next: Friends say they are waiting to hear from Sumler’s family, many of whom still live in Chicago, before making memorial arrangements.
Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
