Posted on 02/21/2025 12:21:48 PM PST by nickcarraway
Jerry Butler, the veteran soul hitmaker who became a local Chicago politician, has passed away. Butler was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and the Chicago Sun-Times reports that he died at home on Thursday night. Butler was 85.
Jerry Butler was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, but he grew up in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects. As kids, Butler and Curtis Mayfield sang together in church. As teenagers, they formed a gospel group called Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers. That group evolved into a doo-wop group called the Roosters, which Butler on lead vocals and Mayfield on guitar. Before long, the Roosters changed their name to the Impressions. Butler co-wrote the ballad “For Your Precious Love” with his Impressions bandmates Arthur and Richard Brooks; it was based on a poem that Butler wrote in high school. The group used the song to audition for Vee-Jay Records, and the label signed them and released the single in 1958, when Butler was 19. “For Your Precious Love” was a crossover hit, reaching #11 on the pop charts, and the Impressions were on their way to stardom.
Early on, the Impressions were sometimes billed as Jerry Butler & The Impressions. After the success of “For Your Precious Love,” though, Butler left the group to go solo. Curtis Mayfield took over as leader, and the Impressions went on to a release legendary run of vivid, politically informed soul anthems before Mayfield wrote his name in history as one of the greatest artists of the ’70s. For his part, Butler also had a lot of success after the Impressions. Butler, Mayfield, and producer Calvin Carter co-wrote Butler’s 1960 single “He Will Break Your Heart,” which reached #7 on the pop charts. Fifteen years later, Tony Orlando & Dawn had a #1 hit with a cover of that song.
Jerry Butler, nicknamed “the Iceman,” continued to release records through the ’60s. In 1964, Butler and Betty Everett had a #5 hit with a cover of the Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me.” A year later, Butler co-wrote Otis Redding’s classic “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.” In the late ’60s, Butler recorded a strong of hits with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the two songwriters and producers who pioneered the Philly soul sound. The biggest of those hits was “Only The Strong Survive,” which reached #4 in 1968. Butler kept landing minor hits into the ’70s, and he recorded a couple of ’70s albums for Motown before moving over to Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International label in the early ’80s.
In 1985, Jerry Butler moved into a second career, becoming a Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois. Butler held that position for 32 years, before retiring from politics in 2018. He continued to perform while holding that job. In 1991, Butler was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of the Impressions.
He will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler
Let It Be Me - Jerry Butler & Betty Everett - 1964.
Jerry Butler / Hey, Western Union Man
Jerry Butler - Never Gonna Give You Up (1968)
Jerry Butler - Ain't Understanding Mellow (1971)
Jerry Butler - I'm Just Thinking About Cooling Out (12" Version)
Will he still be voting for Democrats? Rhetorical question, I know.
Not only will he still be voting for Democrats but early and often in each election, just like Mayor Richard J. Daley taught.
Heard a lot of those on my Boss Radio soundchecks. Good singer, didn’t care for his politics, but RIP, anyway.
RIP to the Iceman. I was a fan. His best stuff holds up well, IMHO, against the works of more well known soul legends like Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson.
Don’t forget:
Mr. Dream Merchant...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6E4G3tL817g&ved=2ahUKEwiFgq3Xz9WLAxVbl-4BHUDmN54QwqsBegQIDBAF&usg=AOvVaw1ATAMFoUNuS5SqwtNOQFC-
How dare he appropriate “whahte man” music!/ sarc.
Thanks for the links. Condolences to family and friends of Jerry Butler.
Keep modern black “music”.
Give me Motown and the great music of the 50’s,60’s, and early 70’s.
Jerry Butler was awesome.
32 years as a commissioner /smh
I love Let It Be Me.
A great singer. R.I.P.
Is this that rap stuff? Can’t stand it.
I can't tell if that is a joke. Butler's career began in the 50's and tailed off in the 70's. His popularity was before rap had even existed. His music is the opposite of rap.
Nah, grew up on the stuff. Motown, rock, classic singers. Real music. Still believe I lived through the greatest period of music and musicians ever.
No. People who can, sing. People who can’t rap.
I just listened to the song twice. The backup is fascinating.
The best version of Moon River, hands down! RIP
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