Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer‑songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Nicknamed the “Gentle Genius,” he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in soul music and in socially conscious African‑American music. Mayfield first achieved success and recognition with the vocal group the Impressions during the civil rights era of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later continued as a solo artist. Mayfield began his musical career singing in a gospel choir. After moving to the North Side of Chicago, he met Jerry Butler in 1956 at age 14 and joined the Impressions. As the group’s lead singer and primary songwriter, Mayfield became known as one of the first musicians to bring strong themes of social awareness into soul music. In 1965, he wrote “People Get Ready” for the Impressions. The song was ranked No. 24 on Rolling Stone’s 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It received numerous other honors, including inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, and induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. After leaving the Impressions in 1970 to pursue a solo career, Mayfield released several albums throughout the decade, including his debut Curtis (1970) and the soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly. The soundtrack was noted for its socially conscious themes, addressing issues affecting inner‑city communities and racial minorities, such as crime, poverty and drug abuse. The album was ranked No. 72 on Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
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Move On Up
Give Me Your Love
Pusherman
Superfly
Here But I’m Gone
The Making Of You
New World Order
[Don’t Worry] If There Is a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go
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