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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMAYFIELD, Curtis(b 3 June 1942, Chicago; d 26 December 1999) Singer, writer, producer, label boss; a significant force in black pop since he was a teenager. He sang in gospel groups; formed the Impressions '57 with Jerry Butler; 'For Your Precious Love' '58 was a top ten R&B hit, no. 11 pop on Vee-Jay's Abner label; Butler went solo and Mayfield wrote and played guitar on his no. 1 R&B hit 'He Will Break Your Heart' '60 (no. 7 pop) on Vee-Jay; kept the Impressions going on ABC with 'Gypsy Woman' (later covered by Ry Cooder), 'It's All Right', 'I'm So Proud', and many more, singing lead, often writing and producing for 38 Hot 100 hits '61-75, most of them huge hits in the soul chart. He worked on staff for OKeh, formed his own labels, created hits for Major Lance, Gene Chandler and others. He formed the Curtom label c.'68 and left the Impressions to go solo, but continued to direct them (two-disc compilation Curtis Mayfield/His Early Years With The Impressions '73 on ABC reached top 200 LPs). Chandler and the Impressions were on Curtom and his solo albums hit the pop charts from the start: Curtis '71, two-disc Curtis/Live! and Roots '72; then hip, danceable Superfly '72, soundtrack from blaxploitation film, was no. 1 LP USA for four weeks. Back To The World '73 was top 20 LP; live Curtis In Chicago '73 with guests Butler, Chandler, the Impressions surprisingly only reached no. 135; Sweet Exorcist and Got To Find A Way '74 did better; There's No Place Like America Today, Give, Get, Take And Have and Never Say You Can't Survive '75-7 hovered below the top 100 LPs. Curtom was distributed by Buddah, WB, then RSO; Heartbeat '79 on RSO was a top 50 LP, followed by duet album The Right Combination with Linda Clifford and Something To Believe In '80, which didn't do as well. Others included Do It All Night '78 and Love Is The Place '81 on Boardwalk; We Come In Peace With A Message Of Love '85 on CRC kept the faith. His talent and optimism earned permanent stardom. He was struck by a falling light rig in 1990 and paralysed from the neck down, but appeared in public subsequently, as much loved as ever. New World Order '96 on WB was his first studio album since the accident, with guests including Aretha Franklin, his verbal and melodic gifts still there, including 'Back To Livin' Again'. Compilations included three-CD People Get Ready: The Curtis Mayfield Story on Rhino and two-CD Curtis Mayfield And The Impressions: Anthology on MCA. |