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Jerry Butler, R&B singer and early leader of the Impressions, dies at 85

BBG News

85-year-old Jerry Butler, who achieved R&B fame as the initial frontman of the Impressions in the late 1950s and later transitioned to a solo career and involvement in Chicago politics, passed away on Thursday.

According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, citing a close family acquaintance, Butler (afflicted with Parkinson’s disease) passed away in his own residence.

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Known as “The Iceman,” Butler had a deep, wise-sounding baritone voice that suggested both the fervor of church and the intimacy of romance while exuding an air of confidence, suggesting he could handle any situation competently. Among his numerous hits, many of which he co-wrote, were the Impressions’ first single “For Your Precious Love,” “He Will Break Your Heart,” “Make It Easy on Yourself,” “Let It Be Me,” and “Only the Strong Survive,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1969. This song inspired various cover versions by artists such as Elvis Presley, Skeeter Davis, Billy Paul, Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

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In 1970, “Only the Strong Survive” was nominated for the Best R&B Song at the Grammys, while “The Ice Man Cometh,” an album produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, was recognized for Best R&B Vocal Performance. Butler contributed over 50 songs to Billboard’s R&B chart, with 18 of them reaching the Top 10. Alongside his childhood friend Curtis Mayfield, he formed the Impressions, which eventually led to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. This recognition came five years after he was appointed to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, a position he held until his retirement in 2018.

Butler was born on December 8, 1939, to sharecropping parents in Sunflower, Mississippi. At the age of three, he moved with his family to Chicago. He sang alongside Mayfield in church and performed together as part of a gospel group before forming the Impressions. In 1958, they signed a deal with Vee-Jay Records and released “For Your Precious Love,” which was later covered by Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson.

Following Mayfield’s custody of the Impressions, the band contributed to the soundtrack of the civil rights movement through songs like “Keep on Pushing” and “People Get Ready”. Butler then reached the top of the R&B chart individually with “He Will Break Your Heart”, a song he co-wrote with Mayfield, featuring him on guitar and backup vocals. In 1961, Butler climbed to number 11 on the Hot 100 with an elegant rendition of “Moon River”. In 1965, he teamed up with Redding to write “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”, a widely covered soul classic. By the end of the ’60s, Butler formed a successful collaboration with Gamble and Huff, a partnership that would pave the way for their future success in the ’70s.

In the ’80s, Butler briefly reconnected with The Impressions, but Mayfield passed away in 1999 at the age of 57. Despite his political responsibilities, he persisted with performances. His music was utilized by artists such as Method Man, J Dilla, and Pusha T; Springsteen chose “Only the Strong Survive” as the title track for his 2022 R&B covers album, which also featured a rendition of Butler’s “Hey, Western Union Man.” Unfortunately, Annette Butler, who often performed with her husband, passed away in 2019. The Sun-Times reported that his family members who carry on after him include their two sons, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

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2025-02-22 00:31

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